Aug 5 2023 23:09 – Updated 5 Aug. 2023 23:10
As expected, there was no final declaration from the peace conference for Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. But a European source says that agreement was reached on important points.
Ukraine had initiated the peace forum in the hope of winning greater international support in the war against Russia.
The Russians were not invited to Saturday’s meeting, but the leadership in the Kremlin announced that they would “follow what was said”.
The goal of the conference was to gather broad support for a ten-point peace plan that Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put forward last year. It calls for the full withdrawal of Russian forces in Ukraine and the restoration of the country’s borders, including the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
– China participated actively
The meeting ended around 20:00 Norwegian time, but without any closing statement being published. What was discussed is kept secret.
A European source nevertheless informs the AFP news agency that the participants agreed that respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty should be “at the heart of any peace settlement”.
According to the source, it was particularly important that Ukraine brought together the members of the influential Brics bloc in addition to Russia: Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
– China participated actively and was positive about meeting again, says the source.
The head of Brazil’s delegation, Celso Amorim, nevertheless used significant amounts of his speech to emphasize that “any real negotiation must include all parties, including Russia.”
Sent top diplomat
The day before the meeting, the Chinese authorities announced that they are sending senior diplomat Li Hui to the conference. A similar meeting was held in Copenhagen in June, and then China declined the invitation.
In addition to China, the USA, Norway, Denmark and Sweden were also among the 40 countries that participated in the conference.
The Swedish representative, Henrik Landerholm, summarized the meeting as “a golden opportunity for Ukraine to reach out to a wider circle of countries, such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa”.
– It is positive that that dialogue is being strengthened, and there was a consensus that it should continue beyond today’s meeting, he tells news agency TT.
– Not easy
Saturday’s session began with a three-hour meeting with statements from various delegations. Then a two-hour long closed discussion awaited.
– I predict that the talks will not be easy, but the truth is on our side, said Andrij Jermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, in an interview on Friday evening.
Zelenskyj has already said that he hopes the meeting in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah will pave the way for a peace summit this autumn, where global leaders will gather around common principles for the way forward towards possible peace talks with Russia.
2023-08-05 21:09:05
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