Saudi Arabia is planning to host talks about Ukraine in August, inviting Western states, Ukraine, and major developing nations, including India and Brazil, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
According to a source citing diplomats involved in the discussion, the meeting would bring senior officials from up to 30 countries, including Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, and Zambia, to Jeddah on August 5 and 6.
It said that Ukraine and Western officials are hoping that the discussions, which exclude Russia, will result in international support for peace terms that are favourable to Ukraine.
The Kremlin, which claims to have annexed around a sixth of Ukraine, has said it views peace talks with Ukraine as possible only if Kyiv accepts “new realities”, referencing its territorial claims. Kyiv says negotiations with Russia would be possible only after Moscow withdraws its troops.
The US national security advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to attend, and attendance has already been confirmed by the UK, South Africa, Poland, and the EU.
Recently, a Russian missile struck a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, and at least five people were injured, according to the interior minister of Ukraine.
As of June 30, 2023, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had confirmed a total of 9,177 civilian deaths as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition, it was reported that 15,993 people had been injured.
