International Peace Talks on Ukraine to Be Held in Saudi Arabia, Russia Excluded

Saudi Arabia has been selected as the host for international peace talks on Ukraine, which will involve the participation of the United States, European Union, and several countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, according to diplomats who spoke to the Wall Street Journal. The meeting, scheduled for August 5 and 6, aims to consolidate international support for Kiev's peace demands and address the ongoing crisis. Notably, Russia has been excluded from the gathering, which is being organized by Western powers and Ukraine.

Around 30 countries, including India, Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia, have been invited to participate in the event in Jeddah. While the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, and the EU have already accepted the invitation, it remains to be seen how many nations will ultimately send delegations to Saudi Arabia. UN National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to attend the talks, according to a person familiar with the plans.

Saudi Arabia, known for its positive relations with China, was chosen as the venue in the hope of persuading Beijing to participate. However, sources suggest that the likelihood of China's attendance remains uncertain. The talks are a continuation of a previous meeting that occurred in Copenhagen, Denmark, in late June and are aimed at gaining support from major developing countries, many of which have remained neutral during the Ukraine war, for Kiev's peace demands.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been advocating his ten-point "peace plan" for several months. The plan includes demands for Russia to withdraw its forces to Ukraine's claimed borders, pay reparations, and submit to war crime tribunals. However, Moscow has rejected these terms as unrealistic and viewed them as a sign of Kiev's reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue.

The organizers of the Jeddah talks anticipate that they will pave the way for a larger international peace summit later in the year, where leaders would sign up to shared principles for resolving the crisis. The hope is that these principles would frame future peace talks between Moscow and Kiev, ultimately favoring Ukraine's position. During the recent Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in resolving differences through negotiations.