Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine peace talks, top official says
Aug 01, 2023
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], August 1: Saudi Arabia is preparing to host a summit to discuss Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky's plan for peace in his country amid the
ongoing Russian invasion, according to a senior official in Kiev.
AndriyYermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said on Sunday that officials from several countries would take part in the Saudi Arabian summit but did not say when or in which city the meeting will be held.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the summit citing "diplomats involved in the discussion", said the talks would take place on August 5 and 6, in the city of Jeddah, with some 30 countries attending.
The Journal said Ukrainian and Western officials hope the efforts could culminate in a peace summit later this year where global leaders would sign up to shared principles for resolving the war. Yermak, writing on Telegram, said discussions will take place on the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which "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".
Previously, Ukraine has described the 10-point peace formula as including the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression and security guarantees for Ukraine.
"We are deeply convinced that the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis, because the war is taking place on our land," Yermak said.
His statement described the 10 points as being "discussed individually and in groups with representatives of more than 50 countries on an almost weekly basis".
He added that the meeting in Saudi Arabia follows on from a gathering of senior officials in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, in late June.
Countries that attended the initial meeting included Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa.
Source: Qatar Tribune