A deal to end the war in Ukraine is unlikely to be reached soon despite a flurry of diplomatic talks this week, a leading conflict expert has said.

Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King’s College London, told the media it was unlikely a workable agreement could be delivered with only US and Russian involvement.

Sir Lawrence said the situation reminded him of when Trump got “very excited” about the prospect of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula following talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term in the White House.

“Eventually it petered out because the positions [on each side] were just incompatible,” he said.

“I’m sceptical that this is going to lead to very much very quickly.”

Sir Lawrence also said it was misleading to describe the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine post-war as a “peacekeeping” force.

“We’re a long way away from being in that position. [But] what we’re talking about is not a peacekeeping mission. I think it’s important not to use that term, because it has a very particular meaning, one of which is impartiality,” he said.

“This will be a very partial force, designed to sit behind Ukrainian frontline forces and providing some back-up and support in the event there is a deal and the Russians break it and fail to comply.”

How will two distinct US narratives play out? And the one ‘crucial question’ we’ll find out on Wednesday

There appear to be two different timelines in the White House’s plan for peace talks with Russia.

European leaders are concerned Washington is rapidly entering negotiations with Moscow – with each sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia – without prior talks with Ukraine or themselves.

Diana Magnay (a journalist) highlights, Donald Trump’s top diplomat Marco Rubio believes this initial process will take “weeks”, telling CBS “one phone call does not make peace”.

He said “it will reach a point” when Ukraine will “have to be involved” as well as the Europeans, but “we’re just not there yet” – for now, their goal is to determine how “serious” Russia is about peace.

But Trump seems to be “turbocharging” the process, Magnay added, and wants to meet Vladimir Putin within weeks.

“So we’ll have to see how those two marry up,” she said.

Keep an eye on Wednesday

But the key point to look out for this week may come in the next two days.

Rubio will be in Riyadh with national security advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff – and they’ll still be there when Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives.

“Are they going to stay to see Volodymyr Zelenskyy? I think that will be a crucial question,” Magnay said.

“We’ll find out on Wednesday.”