Saudi Arabia to Host Talks on Ending War in Ukraine, Excluding Russia

Next week, representatives from 30 countries worldwide have been invited to participate in negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, in a meeting to be held in Saudi Arabia. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that the goal of the meeting is to engage countries from the Global South, where Russia has been successful in waging an information war.

Scheduled for 5th and 6th August in the city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, the summit aims to bring about a peaceful resolution for Ukraine. Notably, Russia will not be part of these talks, as it has been avoiding serious discussions for peace and sticking to maximalist demands, including the annexation of territory it currently does not control.

Countries invited to the meeting include Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia. The participation of the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, the European Union, and the expected attendance of Jake Sullivan, the U.S. President's National Security Advisor, have been confirmed.

Saudi Arabia's choice of location for the meeting is seen as an attempt to involve China in the negotiations. During a previous meeting in Copenhagen, Chinese representatives were absent, but negotiators are hopeful that China will engage in a more friendly country like Saudi Arabia.

The war in Ukraine appears to have reached a deadlock, with neither side gaining significant territory in recent months. Ukrainian officials and Western representatives hope that these talks will pave the way for a peaceful summit later in the year, where world leaders can sign joint principles for ending the war and bolster Ukraine's position in future negotiations with Russia.

Saudi Arabia seeks to play a more prominent role in Ukrainian diplomacy, following accusations from the White House last year of its support for Russia in the oil matter, which strengthened the Kremlin's financial position. The country has facilitated prisoner exchanges and hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at an Arab summit in May.

While the United States and Europe publicly support Kyiv's peace plan, Western officials assert that global negotiations will only succeed if they revolve around a set of universally accepted international principles, such as those outlined in the UN Charter, advocating territorial sovereignty, political independence, and condemning acts of aggression and the use of force.