US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is expected to attend a crucial meeting in Saudi Arabia this weekend. The meeting, called by Ukraine, is aimed at garnering support from neutral countries, including Brazil and India, for Kyiv's proposed solutions to end the ongoing conflict.
The meeting is set to take place in Jeddah and will be Sullivan's second visit to the Red Sea port city within a 10-day span. Just last Thursday, Sullivan was engaged in talks with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, discussing Middle East stability.
Various nations, including Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia, have been invited. It is also hoped that the choice of Saudi Arabia as a venue may lure Chinese participation, however, Beijing's involvement remains unconfirmed.
An official from the US has stated that attendees are expected to debate the principles for peace and strategies for achieving a just and lasting resolution in Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, has confirmed that Moscow will closely monitor the meeting, expressing interest in understanding the objectives set by the organizers.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, expressed gratitude to the hosts and co-organizers for their support and emphasized the importance of involving as many partners as possible in the peace negotiations.
This Jeddah meeting marks the second of a series of multilateral talks aimed at increasing global backing for Ukraine's 10-point peace plan proposed by Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The plan aims at the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity and guarantees on nuclear safety, food, and energy security. Ukraine hopes that these meetings will eventually culminate in a summit revolving around Kyiv's peace proposal, mandating the withdrawal of Russian troops before substantial negotiations can occur.