Saudi Arabia will organise peace talks regarding the Ukraine War on 5-6 August, inviting top government officials from 30 countries, including India, Brazil, and some Western countries, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Saturday.
According to the report, Russia will not attend the meeting, and China’s attendance is uncertain. A source familiar with the event’s organisation told WSJ that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to attend. However, the National Security Council has not yet confirmed anything, it said.
⚡️WSJ: Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine peace talks, without Russia, in August.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 29, 2023
Saudi Arabia is due to host peace talks on Aug. 5 and 6, inviting top officials from 30 countries, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 29, citing unnamed diplomats involved in the discussion. pic.twitter.com/7XA39cSBLc
Overview
According to diplomats participating in the discussions, the summit would gather top officials from up to 30 nations, including Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia, to Jeddah next month. The UK, South Africa, Poland, and the EU are among those who have confirmed their participation.
According to WSJ, Western officials claimed Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the second round of negotiations to persuade China, which has maintained tight relations with Moscow, to participate.
Ukrainian and Western officials hope their efforts will culminate in peace talks later this year, wherein world leaders will sign up to agreed principles for ending the war. They believe these ideas would serve as a framework for future peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine in favour of Kyiv, WSJ reports.
Saudi Arabia is attempting to play a stronger role as a mediator amid the Ukraine War after the White House accused it of cooperating with Russia in keeping oil prices high, thereby helping Moscow’s finances, last year. The Middle-Eastern power has arranged prisoner exchanges and welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at an Arab summit in May.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office confirmed Sunday that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host peace talks on behalf of Ukraine. https://t.co/gwO39A76yH
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 30, 2023
Ukraine’s Presidential Office Confirms
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, confirmed the meetings would take place in Saudi Arabia but did not specify the location.
“The Ukrainian Peace Formula contains 10 fundamental points, the implementation of which will not only ensure peace for Ukraine, but also create mechanisms to counter future conflicts in the world,” Yermak said in a statement.
“We are deeply convinced that the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis, because the war is taking place on our land.”
According to Yermak’s statement, the 10 points are “discussed individually and in groups with representatives of more than 50 countries on an almost weekly basis.”
Previously, Ukraine presented the 10-point peace formula as including the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, withdrawal of Russian soldiers, release of all prisoners, establishment of a tribunal for those guilty of the invasion, and security assurances for Ukraine.
Alternative Peace Initiatives
China presented a 12-point proposal to end the war in February. The proposal included respecting all nations’ sovereignty, enabling grain exports, resuming peace negotiations, and encouraging post-conflict reconstruction.
Representatives from seven African nations visited Ukraine and Russia in June to propose ending the war. The delegation included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, and The Comoros, Egypt’s PM, and representatives of Congo and Uganda’s leaders.
The African delegation’s 10-point plan calls for a diplomatic end to the war, a de-escalation of hostilities and the continual extension of security guarantees to the parties, guaranteeing the safety of grain and fertiliser exports from Ukraine and Russia to third-world nations, post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, and increased cooperation between the two parties and African countries.
Meanwhile, Putin hosted African officials in St. Petersburg last week, during which he offered to deliver free grain supplies to a half-dozen African nations.