Saudi Arabia backs efforts to settle conflict in Ukraine

Saudi Arabia supports “international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis [in Ukraine] politically,” the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said during his phone call with Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

On December 28, the Saudi minister received a phone call from his Russian counterpart to discuss bilateral relations between their countries, according to an official statement, Al Arabiya English informs.

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The two also discussed ways to strengthen their cooperation and exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.

“The two ministers also discussed the latest developments related to the crisis in Ukraine, and His Highness stressed the Kingdom’s continued efforts among all parties and its support for international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically,” the statement said.

Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Fighting in Ukraine has since intensified, especially around the eastern city of Bakhmut in Donetsk province and Svatove, further north in Luhansk province, Britain’s defence ministry said on December 26.

Donetsk and Luhansk – both of which make up the industrial Donbas – as well as two southern Ukrainian regions are claimed by Russia.

On September 10, a plane carrying 10 prisoners of war arrived from Russia in Riyadh following successful mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Crown Prince had been in direct contact with the Kremlin and Ukraine as part of the mediation efforts for the release of the prisoners. Five British citizens, one Moroccan, one Swede, one Croat, and two Americans were released that day.