JEDDAH: Ukrainian President Zelensky has arrived in Jeddah for the 32nd Arab League summit being hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) ahead of an expected visit to Japan for a G7 meeting. President Zelensky was warmly welcomed by Saudi officials in Jeddah.
Zelensky posted on his social media account, “Beginning my first-ever trip to Saudi Arabia to enhance further bilateral ties and Ukraine’s relations with the Arab world. Political prisoners in Crimea and temporarily occupied territories, the return of our people, energy cooperation, and peace formula. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) plays an important role and we are ready to take our cooperation to a new level,”.
Beginning my first-ever visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral relations and Ukraine’s ties with the Arab world. Political prisoners in Crimea and temporarily occupied territories, the return of our people, Peace Formula, energy cooperation. KSA plays a…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2023
The Ukrainian President will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has also mediated in the Russia-Ukraine crisis before.
Last year Prince Mohammed Bin Salman won a diplomatic triumph when he secured the release of ten foreigners captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. The move was apparently made possible by his close relations with the Russian President.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, in a post on social media, welcomed the Ukrainian President as the guest of the Arab League’s 32nd session.
#جدة | أهلاً بكم فخامة الرئيس فلاديمير زيلينسكي رئيس أوكرانيا ضيفًا للدورة العادية الـ32 في #قمة_جدة pic.twitter.com/H0C4IDZvzq
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) May 19, 2023
Anatolii Petrenko, Ukraine’s envoy to the Kingdom, meanwhile said Zelensky’s trip was a milestone for Ukrainian-Arab ties.
The Ambassador said that the “Global South and Ukraine are consistently building up their relations while consolidating efforts to effectively tackle the critical problems of global and regional importance”.
Today is truly a Milestone Day for Ukrainian-Arab relations! Ukrainian President 🇺🇦Volodymyr Zelenskyy @ZelenskyyUa arrived in Jeddah 🇸🇦 to participate in the Arab League Summit. First visit to hospitable Saudi Arabia and first Ukrainian leader to take part in such an event of…
— Anatolii Petrenko (@AmbUkraineKSA) May 19, 2023
