Ukraine today confirmed the start of talks in Saudi Arabia in August, with the intervention of international representatives and to which Moscow has not been invited, which according to Kyiv are aimed at restoring a "just peace" according to the Ukrainian formula.
"Ukraine's peace formula contains ten fundamental points, which, in addition to guaranteeing peace for Ukraine, will create mechanisms to counter future conflicts," said the spokesman for the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, according to the Ukrinform portal.
President Volodimir Zelensky's spokesman is convinced that "the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis", adding that "we try to take into account opinions and positions that do not contradict the UN Charter". For Kyiv, this formula contemplates the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) newspaper advanced on Saturday that Saudi Arabia planned to host peace talks on Ukraine between Kiev, Western countries and developing world powers such as Brazil and India in early August, but without Russia.
The Kremlin said on Monday that it needed to find out the purpose of those talks. Asked about the information published by the WSJ, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said: "Of course, Russia will follow this meeting. We need to understand what goals are set and what will be discussed. Any attempt to promote a peaceful agreement deserves a positive evaluation. ".
However, Peskov also reaffirmed Moscow's position that it currently sees no reason for peace talks with Kyiv. "The Kyiv regime does not and cannot want peace, as long as it is used exclusively as a tool in the collective West's war with Russia," he said on a call with reporters.
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that an African initiative, which calls for confidence-building measures followed by a cessation of hostilities, could be the basis for peace in Ukraine, but that Ukraine's attacks on Russia make it very difficult to achieve. .
For his part, Zelensky has rejected the idea of a ceasefire that would leave Russia in control of nearly a fifth of his country and give his forces time to regroup after a grueling 17-month war.
The meeting is scheduled for August 5 and 6 and, according to newspaper sources, it will bring together senior officials from up to 30 countries in the city of Jeddah.
According to Western diplomats quoted by the newspaper, the hope is that these talks could culminate in a peace summit this year, in which international leaders would endorse common principles to resolve the war in Ukraine, which, in turn, could serve as a basis. for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow more favorable to the Ukrainians.
According to the WSJ, the Jeddah meeting would be a follow-up to another held in June in Copenhagen between representatives of Ukraine, the United States, European countries, Brazil, India, Turkey and South Africa and about which little information was disclosed.
The choice of the Arab country for this meeting would seek, according to Western diplomats, to favor the possible participation of China, which maintains good relations with Moscow, but also with Riyadh. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously expressed his willingness to mediate in the conflict.
