Security advisors and representatives from the foreign ministries of over 40 countries concluded their meetings in Jeddah (western Saudi Arabia) regarding the Ukrainian crisis. These discussions were described by participants as highly fruitful and transparent.
Saudi sources mentioned that the heads of the delegations concluded their main meetings on Saturday evening, while technical meetings aimed at coordination and future cooperation continued on Sunday.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, praised the discussions aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution in Ukraine taking place in Saudi Arabia. Speaking to the German newspaper “Bild am Sonntag” on Sunday, she noted, “Any millimeter of progress towards achieving fair and equitable peace brings some hope to the people in Ukraine,” as reported by the German news agency.
For his part, Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff for the Ukrainian President and leader of his country’s delegation in Jeddah, confirmed that participants conducted very productive consultations about the fundamental principles on which a just and lasting peace should be built. This allowed representatives from every nation to express their stances and opinions.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the meeting underscores the humanitarian initiatives and efforts made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Deputy Prime Minister. These efforts include the dialogues he initiated with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders from the early days of the crisis, expressing his country’s readiness to contribute towards achieving a lasting peace and supporting all endeavors and initiatives aiming to mitigate the crisis’s humanitarian consequences.
Yermak, in a statement published on the Ukrainian Presidential website, stated, “The second meeting of the national security advisors and foreign ministry representatives on the key principles for restoring a sustainable and fair peace for Ukraine, which started last June in Copenhagen, was held.”
The Chief of Staff for the Ukrainian President also highlighted that the Jeddah meetings were attended by “over 40 countries, representing three times the representation at the Copenhagen consultations. This indicates the world’s extraordinary interest in establishing a lasting and fair peace,” in his words.