Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Zelensky arrived in Jeddah earlier on Wednesday, where he was welcomed by Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, the deputy governor of the Makkah Region.
During their discussion, they reviewed Ukraine’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has sought to stay neutral in Ukraine's war with Russia. The crown prince reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
The conversation also touched on strategies to alleviate the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. President Zelensky expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia's contributions to these efforts.
In addition, they discussed preparations for the inaugural Global Peace Summit, its anticipated outcomes, and potential implementation strategies to bring genuine peace closer to Ukraine.
Zelensky has been traveling extensively in recent weeks to garner support and participation for the peace summit, scheduled to take place in Switzerland this weekend. His tour included visits to traditional European Union allies and countries in the Middle East and Asia that maintain closer ties with Russia. Earlier this month, he visited Singapore, the Philippines, and Qatar.
Representatives from approximately 90 countries are expected to convene in Switzerland to deliberate on Kyiv's plan to end the war. Through in-person visits, Zelensky has successfully persuaded many officials to attend. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined the invitation to attend.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, collaborates closely with Moscow on oil policy and has emphasized its connections to both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, positioning itself as a potential mediator in the conflict.
