Saudi Arabia on Friday promised to send Ukraine $400 million in humanitarian aid amid allegations that it is supporting Russia’s war efforts. The Kingdom has also expressed interest in mediating Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.
During a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) announced Riyadh’s decision to offer a humanitarian aid package of $400 million, “which will contribute to alleviating the suffering of Ukrainian citizens in the wake of the crisis.” The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the initiative is “evidence of the Crown Prince’s keenness to alleviate the human suffering of the Ukrainian people, which they will never forget.”
4/ We should remove these Patriot batteries from Saudi Arabia and move them to either Ukraine, or NATO partners who have transferred weapons to Ukraine and need to backfill defense systems.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 13, 2022
These two steps would right-size our relationship with Saudi Arabia AND help Ukraine.
MBS told Zelensky that this shows Riyadh’s commitment to Kyiv’s cause and “proves the Kingdom’s friendship to Ukraine.” He emphasised that Saudi Arabia would support “everything that contribute to de-escalation” and stressed its “readiness to continue the efforts of mediation.”
MBS also drew attention to the fact that Saudi Arabia voted last week at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to condemn Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories. “The vote for the resolution emanates from Riyadh’s commitment to the deep-rooted principles in the UN charter and international law, and its commitment to the respect of state sovereignty and the principles of good neighbourliness, and resolving conflicts by peaceful means,” he stressed.
Spoke to Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. Thanked for supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, resolution at the UN General Assembly. We agreed to interact in the release of 🇺🇦 prisoners of war. We agreed on the provision of 🇸🇦 macro-financial aid to Ukraine.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 14, 2022
According to the SPA, Zelensky thanked Saudi Arabia for the UNGA vote against Russia and welcomed MBS’ readiness to mediate peace talks.
MBS’ decision to send $400 million in aid to Ukraine followed accusations by the United States (US) that Saudi Arabia is siding with Moscow after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – Plus (OPEC+) to cut oil production by two million barrels per day. The US said the production cut would help Russia fund its war and reduce the impact of price caps on Russian energy. In fact, Russia welcomed OPEC+’s moves as “balanced and thoughtful.”
Eastern Ukraine is the new organizing principle of American foreign policy:
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) October 16, 2022
— Venezuela becomes a friend.
— Saudi Arabia becomes an enemy.
— Europe freezes.
— Global South starves.
— US has a recession.
All over a piece of real estate that has never been a vital US interest. https://t.co/4Blft0BNqX
The US condemned the Saudi-led oil cartel’s decision as “short-sighted” and said it would worsen the global energy crisis and spike oil and gas prices, with President Joe Biden warning Saudi Arabia of “consequences.” Against this tense backdrop, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan revealed in an interview this past weekend that Biden “has no plans to meet” MBS at next month’s G20 Summit.
Saudi Arabia, however, has brushed off all allegations levelled against it. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said OPEC+’s decision is responsible and would stabilise the global oil market. He also denied the US’ claims that the move supported Russia’s war efforts, emphasising that the decision was technical and not political.
Although the OPEC+ decision, which was taken unanimously, was due to purely economic reasons, some accused the Kingdom of standing with Russia.
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) October 16, 2022
Iran is also a member of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is standing with Iran as well?
On Sunday, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the Kingdom is “astonished” by accusations that it is standing with Russia. “It is telling that these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government,” he tweeted.
“Iran is also a member of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is standing with Iran as well?” he asked, insisting that OPEC+’s decision “was due to purely economic reasons.”