Saudi Arabia Will Host Talks About Ukraine’s Peace Plan, Diplomats Say

Saudi Arabia will host talks on Ukraine’s peace plan with a number of different nations this weekend within the coastal metropolis of Jeddah, three overseas diplomats within the kingdom have stated.
The diplomats, who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the talks, stated that a number of nations, together with the United States and European nations, together with Brazil, China and India, had been invited, although it was not instantly clear who would attend.
Russia didn’t look like amongst these invited. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, stated that “Russia will keep an eye on this meeting” however would wish “to fully understand what goals are being set,” Russia’s state-run Tass information company reported on Monday.
Many of the invited nations, and Saudi Arabia, have resisted American and European strain to isolate Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine final yr.
News of the talks was first reported on Saturday by The Wall Street Journal, which stated that Saudi Arabia would host the conferences on Aug. 5 and 6. It follows a similar event in Copenhagen in June, The Journal reported.
On Sunday, the pinnacle of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, Andriy Yermak, stated {that a} assembly about implementing his nation’s plan “to restore lasting and just peace” could be held in Saudi Arabia quickly, with the attendance of world leaders’ nationwide safety and political advisers.
The 10-point Ukrainian plan goals to carry Russia accountable for battle atrocities, and requires Moscow to give up all captured Ukrainian territory and pay damages. Russia has rejected the plan.
The Saudi authorities didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The assembly is one other instance of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to place himself as a world chief with affect past his area — and to carve out a job for the dominion as a mediator. In May, Prince Mohammed invited President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to make an look at a summit of Arab States, the place the Ukrainian chief urged Middle Eastern nations to face together with his nation towards Russia and referred to as out their reluctance to take sides within the battle.
Like many nations within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia maintains shut ties with Russia, which coordinates with the dominion on power costs as a key member of the OPEC Plus cartel of oil exporters.
The Biden administration has struggled to influence Saudi Arabia and numerous different nations to isolate Russia because the Kremlin wages battle in Ukraine.
Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman, stated on Monday that the Biden administration supported the talks in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Miller stated it was vital for nations to “talk directly with Ukraine” in regards to the battle and its place on potential peace phrases. “We have long said that it is important that Ukraine be in the driver’s seat when it comes to any potential diplomatic resolution to this war,” he stated.
He stated the U.S. was not prepared to substantiate which American officers could be attending. The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that Jake Sullivan, the nationwide safety adviser, would symbolize the Biden administration.
Edward Wong and Michael Crowley contributed reporting.