Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held talks in Saudi Arabia with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in an attempt to push for an end to the invasion of Ukraine and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.
A statement on Zelenskyy’s website said the two men discussed a Ukrainian plan to end the conflict, and said that the president had thanked MBS for his mediation role.
“The head of state [Zelenskyy] noted in particular Saudi Arabia’s strivings to help in restoring a just peace in Ukraine,” the statement said. “Saudi Arabia’s leadership can help find a just solution.”
The state-run Saudi Press Agency said that MBS had “affirmed the Kingdom’s keeness and support for all international endeavours and efforts aimed at resolving the Ukrainian-Russian crisis”.
It later reported that Zelenskyy had left Saudi Arabia.
MBS has sought to position himself as a potential mediator to end the war between Ukraine and Russia – even as Riyadh remains closely aligned with Russia on energy policies through the OPEC+ group of countries.
Credit: aljazeera.com
