Ukraine talks in Jeddah testify to Saudi Arabia’s growing global influence - media

That’s according to Voice of America, Ukrinform reports.

"Saudi Arabia engaged in the discussion 40 countries, including the United States, India and other nations of the Global South, and some of the participating countries were neutral or even allied with Russia, while China took part in the discussion in this format for the first time," the report states.

Dania Koleilat Khatib, head of the Beirut-based Research Center for Cooperation and Peacebuilding, told VOA that Middle East anxiety over the U.S. withdrawal from the region has prompted Saudi Arabia to expand its influence elsewhere. Thus, China, which is the kingdom’s largest trading partner, helped it restore relations with its competitor - Iran.

According to Khatib, the U.S. also wants to cooperate with Saudi Arabia, which has been seeking to diversify its friends and not rely solely on Washington. It has succeeded to this end, the analyst notes, as the country reached out to China, Russia. The nation is also trying to build relations with Türkiye and Iran. On the other hand, the U.S. seeks to ensure that Saudi Arabia remains in one boat with them.

It is noted that high-ranking officials of Saudi Arabia consider these negotiations to be the result of the country's success in adopting a policy of strong ties with Ukraine, China, and Russia.

Joost Hiltermann, who leads the International Crisis Group's Middle East program, told Agence France-Presse that Saudi Arabia wants to be in the company of India or Brazil because only together can these mid-tier powers have an impact on the world stage. At the same time, he noted, whether they will be able to agree on all issues, such as the war in Ukraine, remains a big question.

As reported, on August 5-6, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) hosted a second meeting at the level of national security advisers and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky’s Peace Formula is about ensuring radiation, nuclear, food, and energy security, and the release of all prisoners and deportees, fulfilling the UN Charter and restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the world order, the withdrawal of Russian troops and ending hostilities, restoring justice, combating ecocide, preventing escalation, and fixating the end of the war.