Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia to push for peace, POW cope with Russia | Russia-Ukraine conflict Information

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought to place himself as a possible mediator to finish conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Saudi Arabia with plans to go to the dominion’s highly effective crown prince to push for an finish to the invasion of Ukraine and the return of prisoners of conflict from Russia.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has sought to place himself as a possible mediator to finish the conflict between Ukraine and Russia – whilst Riyadh stays intently aligned with Russia on vitality insurance policies by means of the OPEC+ group of nations.

Zelenskyy’s journey on Tuesday got here as Kyiv’s forces are slowly being pushed again in japanese Ukraine. Russia has gained the initiative as a consequence of its huge benefit in troop numbers and weapons provides, navy analysts say, as Kyiv waits for information of recent provisions from its Western companions.

The Ukrainian navy mentioned Tuesday that it has withdrawn its forces from two extra villages close to Avdiivka within the japanese Donetsk area following intense in a single day combating, in keeping with a Ukrainian military spokesman.

Ukrainian troops have pulled again from Sieverne and Stepove, Dmytro Lykhovyi mentioned on nationwide tv. The 2 villages had a inhabitants of some 100 folks in whole earlier than the full-scale invasion, he mentioned.

Ukraine continues to “depend on Saudi Arabia’s ongoing lively assist” in pushing ahead with what has been described as a “Peace System” to finish the full-scale invasion, which marked its second anniversary over the weekend, Zelenskyy mentioned in a message on X.

Zelenskyy has introduced a 10-point peace system that, amongst different issues, seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for conflict crimes – at a time when the 2 sides are combating from largely static positions alongside a roughly 1,500km (930-mile) entrance line. Such concepts are rejected out of hand by Moscow.

“The second subject is the return of POWs and deportees,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The dominion’s management has already contributed to the discharge of our folks. I’m assured that this assembly may also yield outcomes.”

The Ukrainian president didn’t elaborate, however mentioned that financial cooperation additionally could be mentioned.

The state-run Saudi Press Company (SPA) mentioned that Zelenskky arrived at Riyadh’s King Khalid Worldwide Airport and was met by authorities officers.

On Monday MBS additionally met with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, the SPA reported, including that they’d mentioned methods to spice up parliamentary cooperation and “developments of frequent concern”.

In recent times, MBS – the de facto chief of Saudi Arabia – has reached a detente with Iran, pursued a peace cope with Yemen’s Houthi rebels and likewise provided himself as a frontrunner in different crises worldwide.

That’s after going through widespread worldwide condemnation for Saudi Arabia’s involvement within the conflict in Yemen and the 2018 killing of Washington Publish columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which US intelligence companies consider was carried out on his orders – a declare MBS denies.

In Could, Zelenskyy travelled to Saudi Arabia for a gathering of Arab leaders and likewise met then with MBS.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – all neighbours on the Arabian Peninsula – have been concerned in prisoner exchanges because the conflict broke out in 2022.