Saudi Arabia to host peace talks with Ukraine but without Russia
Mike Brest
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Saudi Arabia will host a summit to discuss the war in Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, said on Sunday they are trying to “involve as many partners as possible.”
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“We are preparing the next meeting of national security advisers regarding the implementation of the Peace Formula, which will soon take place in [Saudi Arabia],” he said on social media. “The first NSAs meeting that we initiated, took place in June in Copenhagen. We are now working hard to involve as many partners as possible from both the West and the Global South in the negotiations in [Saudi Arabia].”
The meeting, which is set to take place Aug. 5-6 in Jeddah, could include representatives from up to 30 countries but not Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Russian officials have largely ignored appeals to turn to diplomacy, though when acknowledging such pleas, they have often made demands already considered against Ukrainian red lines, such as keeping annexed territories.
While Moscow will not be at the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted they will be watching the summit closely.
“Undoubtedly, Russia will keep an eye on this meeting. We’d have to fully understand what goals are being set and what the organizers actually plan to talk about. We have repeatedly said that any attempts to somehow contribute to a peaceful settlement deserve a positive assessment,” Peskov said.
“Is it possible to reach a peace settlement now with the participation of the Kiev regime and in the context of its current stance? The answer is unambiguous. No, it is impossible,” he explained. “There are no prerequisites for this. President [Vladimir] Putin said this in particular. The Kiev regime does not wish and cannot wish peace as long as it is used exclusively as a tool in the collective West’s war against Russia.”
Last month, a group of Western leaders met in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and representatives from Brazil, India, Turkey, and South Africa were all in attendance.
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The Ukrainian leader may attend September’s United Nations General Assembly in September, according to Bloomberg News.
Meanwhile, Russian leader Vladimir Putin hosted the leaders of a handful of African nations last week.