Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s contributions to peace efforts in Ukraine. The meeting occurred before critical discussions between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at ending the war with Russia and focused on strengthening bilateral ties and cooperative strategies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah prior to significant talks between Ukrainian and US officials regarding the resolution of the ongoing war with Russia. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s crucial role in fostering peace efforts during this meeting. The Crown Prince reaffirmed the kingdom’s support for international endeavors aimed at resolving the crisis.
The Saudi state news agency reported that Prince Mohammed articulated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to aiding global efforts for peace in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy acknowledged the importance of the Crown Prince’s perspective, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s involvement in recent diplomatic discussions. He expressed, “We are ready to collaborate and are confident that stronger ties between our nations and regions will benefit both our peoples and the world.”
Saudi Arabia has assumed various mediating functions since the onset of Russia’s invasion in 2022, facilitating prisoner exchanges and hosting talks between Russia and the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz also held discussions with the Crown Prince on various topics, including the situation in Yemen and Gaza reconstruction, emphasizing the importance of Saudi Arabia’s role in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
The upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia are set for three days and will encompass potential bilateral agreements on minerals between Ukraine and the US along with strategies to conclude the conflict. This marks the initial official interaction following the recent engagement between President Zelenskyy and former President Trump. The Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated the kingdom’s unwavering commitment to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, pointing to their ongoing efforts over the past three years to facilitate discussions and meetings on the issue.
In summary, President Zelenskyy’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in international diplomatic efforts towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine. With discussions set to occur between Ukrainian and US officials, the focus will be on developing cooperative ties and strategies to end the war. Saudi Arabia remains committed to its peace efforts, thereby strengthening its position as a mediator in the ongoing crisis.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
