Saudi officials see the talks as capping the country’s success in adopting a policy of strong ties to Ukraine, China and Russia…reports Asian Lite News
Experts have said the fact that Saudi Arabia is holding discussions to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine leads to further increasing the oil-rich nation’s growing influence in world affairs, Voice of America (VOA) reported, adding that 40 diverse nations, including the US, China, India, and other nations from the Global South, had gathered in Saudi Arabia to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, on the second day of the Saudi-hosted summit in Jeddah, bilateral discussions took place, with of the Global South, which have supported Russia as a neutral or even an ally during the crisis, coming together with senior officials from Ukraine and its Western backers, including the US and the EU.
China is taking part in this forum for the first time. Beijing has continued to maintain tight diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow despite requests from other countries to denounce Moscow. Although not present, Russia is keeping an eye on the negotiations, according to VOA.
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Observers and Western officials say Saudi diplomacy had been important in securing China’s presence at the talks.
Analyst Dania Koleilat Khatib, head of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building in Beirut, told VOA that Middle East jitters that America has been withdrawing from the region encouraged Saudi Arabia to expand its relationships elsewhere. China is its biggest trading partner and helped patch relations with rival Iran, VOA reported.
However Khatib said the US wants to engage with Saudi Arabia and encourage its diplomatic forays.
“Saudi willingly wants to diversify its friends and not rely on the US. It has been successful in doing that. It’s reached out to China, Russia. It’s trying to build relations with Turkey, with Iran. On the other side, the US is courting Saudi. We will help you gain a prominent role. The US encouraged everyone to come and sent their national security adviser,” Khatib added.
Saudi officials see the talks as capping the country’s success in adopting a policy of strong ties to Ukraine, China and Russia, VOA reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged there were differences among the participants and urged the restoration of the rules-based international order.
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday said India remains an active, willing partner to find a lasting, comprehensive solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (ANI)
Jeddah talks conclude with call for peace efforts
The talks on the Ukraine crisis have concluded in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, where participants have called for continuing international efforts to build a common ground for peace.
The meeting, which excluded Russia, was chaired by Saudi Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. It was attended by representatives from more than 40 countries and international organisations, including the US, India, the EU, China and the United Nations.
The participants emphasised the importance of benefiting from views and positive suggestions presented during the two-day (August 5-6) meeting, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that he hoped the initiative would lead to a “peace summit” of world leaders this autumn to endorse the principles, based on his own 10-point formula for a settlement, The Guardian reported.
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