WSJ reports that Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host talks in August with 30+ countries participating focused on Ukraine. India will mediate the talks; snubs Russia.
Diplomats familiar with the matter revealed that the meeting aims to assemble senior officials from approximately 30 countries. Among the invitees are nations like Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia. The designated venue for the talks is Jeddah, and the event is scheduled for August 5th and 6th.
The primary objective of the talks, as stated by Ukrainian and Western officials, is to garner international support for peace terms that are favorable to Ukraine.
Notably, Russia will not participate in these discussions. The Kremlin has previously expressed its willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine only if Kyiv acknowledges what it terms as “new realities,” referring to Russia’s territorial claims and the disputed annexation of parts of Ukraine.
In response, Kyiv has made it clear that negotiations with Russia will be considered only after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
While the exact number of attendees from the invited countries remains uncertain, it is anticipated that nations that participated in a previous round of talks in Copenhagen in June will join the upcoming event.
Confirmed attendees for the Jeddah talks include Britain, South Africa, Poland, and the European Union.
Furthermore, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to be present at the gathering, underscoring the significance of the event on an international level.
