Arab leaders, joined by Syrian President Bashar Assad for the first time in more than a decade, held their annual summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday with an eye on Sudan and other conflicts, and the visit by surprise of the president of Ukraine.
The summit coincides with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s regional diplomatic efforts, which have the same vigor with which he had previously pitted the wealthy kingdom against its arch-enemy Iran and its regional liaisons.
Relations with Iran
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has restored diplomatic ties with Iran, is trying to end its years-long war against Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, and has led the drive for Syria’s return to the Arab League. 12 years since its membership was suspended for Assad’s bloody crackdown on the Arab Spring protests.
The Saudis have even offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia after a prisoner exchange deal was negotiated last year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that he began a visit to the Saudi kingdom with the aim of “improving bilateral relations and Ukraine’s ties with the Arab world.” Among other issues, he mentioned Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula and a peace “formula” for the war that began after the invasion of Moscow in February last year, as well as energy cooperation.
Saudi state television broadcast footage of Zelenskyy arriving at the airport in his usual military-looking attire and being greeted by Saudi authorities on the runway.
The Ukrainian leader said he will speak at the Jeddah summit and expose the treatment received by Tatar Muslims living in the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia. The visit coincides with a series of trips abroad by the president, who until now had mainly visited allied nations.
Arab countries have largely remained neutral in the war, and many of them maintain close relations with Moscow. Earlier this year, Riyadh promised $400 million in aid to Kiev and has voted in favor of United Nations resolutions calling on the Kremlin to end the invasion and not annex Ukrainian territories.
sweat on the agenda
The focus of the summit, which brings together 22 Arab leaders, is expected to focus on Sudan. The East African nation’s two top generals — both backed by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries — have been facing off for more than a month in fighting across the country that has killed hundreds of people and prompted an exodus from the capital. , Khartoum, and from other areas.
The Arab League is also expected to reiterate its continued support for the Palestinians in the face of rising tensions in the Middle East.
