Saudi Arabia was set to host talks on the Ukraine war on Saturday in the latest flexing of its diplomatic muscle, though expectations are mild for what the gathering might achieve.
The meeting of national security advisers and other officials in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah underscores Riyadh's "readiness to exert its good offices to contribute to reaching a solution that will result in permanent peace," the official Saudi Press Agency said Friday.
Invitations were sent to around 30 countries, Russia not among them, according to diplomats familiar with the preparations.
The SPA report said only that "a number of countries" would attend.
It follows Ukraine-organised talks in Copenhagen in June that were designed to be informal and did not yield an official statement.
Instead, diplomats said the sessions were intended to engage a range of countries in debates about a path towards peace, notably members of the BRICS bloc with Russia that have adopted a more neutral stance on the war in contrast to Western powers.
Speaking on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the wide range of countries represented in the Jeddah talks, including developing countries which have been hit hard by the surge in food prices triggered by the war.
"This is very important, because on issues such as food security, the fate of millions of people in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world directly depends on how fast the world moves to implement the peace formula," he said.
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter which works closely with Russia on oil policy, has touted its ties to both sides and positioned itself as a possible mediator in the war, now nearly a year and a half old.
"In hosting the summit, Saudi Arabia wants to reinforce its bid to become a global middle power with the ability to mediate conflicts while asking us to forget some of its failed strategies and actions of the past, like its Yemen intervention or the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," said Joost Hiltermann, Middle East programme director for the International Crisis Group.
The 2018 slaying of Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for The Washington Post, by Saudi agents in Turkey once threatened to isolate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler.
But the energy crisis produced by the Ukraine war elevated Saudi Arabia's global importance, helping to facilitate his rehabilitation.
Moving forward Riyadh "wants to be in the company of an India or a Brazil, because only as a club can these middle powers hope to have impact on the world stage," Hiltermann added.
"Whether they will be able to agree on all things, such as the Ukraine war, is a big question."
- 'Balancing' -
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, failing in its attempt to take Kyiv but seizing swathes of territory that Western-backed Ukrainian troops are fighting to recapture.
Beijing, which says it is a neutral party in the conflict but has been criticised by Western capitals for refusing to condemn Moscow, announced on Friday it would participate in the Jeddah talks.
"China is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," said foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
India has also confirmed its attendance in Jeddah, describing the move as in line "with our longstanding position" that "dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward". South Africa said it too will take part.
Saudi Arabia has backed UN Security Council resolutions denouncing Russia's invasion as well as its unilateral annexation of territory in eastern Ukraine.
Yet last year, Washington criticised oil production cuts approved in October, saying they amounted to "aligning with Russia" in the war.
This May, the kingdom hosted Zelensky at an Arab summit in Jeddah, where he accused some Arab leaders of turning "a blind eye" to the horrors of Russia's invasion.
In sum, Riyadh has adopted a "classic balancing strategy" that could soften Russia's response to this weekend's summit, said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham.
"They're working with the Russians on several files, so I guess Russia will deem such an initiative if not totally favourable then not unacceptable as well."
© 2023 AFP
26 Comments
stormcrow
Remember what happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
PTownsend
two of the globe’s petrochemical master.s both warmongers joining forces to further fight against any shift towards using alternative means of generating power. The global elite establishment will not give up their wealth and their control over the planet. And they own enough politicians and media, see Twitter and others to keep their power and control and the earth keeps burning and flooding
Mr Kipling
Khashoggi's father was the original Mr 10% made fabulously wealthy by his arms deals for the Saudis. That his son thought that he could badmouth the hand that had been feeding his family's luxury lifestyle and not face severe consequences is rather hard to believe.
But not as hard to believe that the US would care about his murder more than Saudi oil and arms sales.
konjo4u
It would be nice if Saudi Arabia could convince the Kremlin to stop the aggression. I don't see how they could or if that is even Riyadh's idea of a solution.
Strangerland
Clearly Ukraine wants peace. Notice how Russia isn't at these talks? Clearly they want to continue the war.
Russia must be defeated, because they refuse to quit. This war won't end until every Russian soldier in Ukraine is dead, because it looks like they won't go home.
I hope Russian's are ok with sending their children to die so that Putin could put Russia forth as a pawn for China in their proxy war.
ClippetyClop
There is only one solution for permanent peace; The Soviets leave Ukraine.
They can either do this voluntarily or in bags, but Ukraine isn’t going to stop fighting.
geronimo2006
Hypocrites. The Saudis could threaten to flood the market and crash oil prices thereby defunding Russia's war machine anytime, but that's not going to happen. Instead there will be lavish meetings followed by a peace proposal that neither side can accept, and a continuation of high oil prices.
Strangerland
I'm not fan of the Saudi's, but as every other nation, they need to make decisions in the best interests of their nation, and rarely are extreme measures in the best interests of their people. Of course they could instead do absolutely nothing, in which case, they would be spared being called hypocrites by people like you, which seems like reason enough to do absolutely nothing, right? I mean, being called hypocrites for providing a nuanced solution, is so intolerable as to make doing nothing to be the only logical thing to do.
How stupid are the Saudis for doing something that has directly led to their being called hypocrites?
Blacklabel
Notice that Russia was not invited.
Zelensky afraid if they come there could be an actual solution negotiated.
That’s not allowed.
ClippetyClop
Not invited by who? Was it Zelensky handing out the invites?
What would be the point in inviting a country that can’t even admit that it’s invading?
It does give you yet another thing to complain about though.
falseflagsteve
This is a joke,lol
The Saudis, and both the squabbling sides are evildoers, total egotistical maniacs without empathy.
More bloodshed to come as there is no end in sight of this madness.
ClippetyClop
Are you still pretending that you don’t want Ukraine to surrender?
Are you also still pretending that people believe you?
Such a cute little fantasy.
UChosePoorly
Blacklabel - Russia's position is that they are not willing to give Ukraine her land back. Until that position softens, I don't think there is much point in trying to talk to them.
Eastmann
talk abt bad Russia but without Russia?
pointless
Blacklabel
wasn’t it?
Who else would have a peace meeting for Ukraine and Russia…..and not invite Russia?
Blacklabel
So maybe actually invite Russia next time?
Otherwise it’s just a meeting begging for more donations.
Blacklabel
“The meeting, which Ukrainian organizers had said would include representatives from nearly 40 countries but not Russia, began on Saturday afternoon in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, participants said”
falseflagsteve
I find it terrible that people use party lines and political beliefs to justify the continuation of this beastly war funded by the military industrial complex.
Cant people see it’s all about the same people making hardcore profits again and again?
I find it so sad and very upsetting
Give peace a chance.
2020hindsights
falseflagsteve
Totally agree. They are here to discuss Zelensky's 10 point peace plan. Hopefully he can get some fence sitters on his side.
dagon
Maybe they can instruct them about dismembering dissenting journalists with saws can lead to peace.
And it is always a suspicious, and odd fact that support for authoritarians is so broad based.
The supporters of 45 will support Russia and Putin and be silent about other oligarchs East and West.
fallaffel
Yes, we know that to you, both the invader and the invaded are equally "evildoers" who make you sad. You absolutely have the right to try to tell Ukraine to give up because they're hurting your feelings.
Kuku
Saudi coffee klatch:))))
President of Ukraine Zel in October 2022 issued a decree on the impossibility of negotiations with the current president of the Russian Federation. It's a presidential decree. Apparently, his bosses dictated such a decree to him. What are u going to do with the decree?
ClippetyClop
Saudi Arabia.
It’s in the article. It’s also in the headline.
Who are you angry with about this?
Kuku
Yes, they can discuss it... they have nothing to do anyway .. нехер делать. Ukraine is not in a position to dictate its wishes. Discuss all 10 points and send them into the trash.