Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky is attending the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The Ukrainian leader’s participation adds to an already historic summit that also features Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the first time in more than 10 years.
Al-Arabiya reported early Friday afternoon local time that Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia for the summit. Reuters reported earlier that a French government plane would take Zelensky to Saudi Arabia and then bring him to the G7 meeting in Japan.
Beginning my first-ever visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral relations and Ukraine’s ties with the Arab world. Political prisoners in Crimea and temporarily occupied territories, the return of our people, Peace Formula, energy cooperation. KSA plays a…
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2023
Background: This year’s Arab League summit is being held in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the Red Sea. The summit has taken on increased importance this year due to the participation of Assad. The longtime Syrian ruler has not attended an Arab League summit since the body expelled Syria in 2011 in response to the ongoing civil war in the country. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League earlier this month.
Assad landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. He is expected to make promises on stopping illicit drug trade and ensuring a safe return of refugees, former US ambassador to Syria Robert Ford told Al-Monitor on Thursday.
Why it matters: Zelensky’s attendance at the Arab League summit comes as somewhat of a surprise, but the Ukraine war has had a significant economic effect on the region. Egypt in particular has experienced severe inflation since Russia invaded Ukraine last year and disrupted Ukraine’s grain exports. Egypt imported most of its grain from both countries before the war. Relatedly, Turkey announced on Wednesday an extension of the deal it brokered between Ukraine and Russia on the safe passage of grain exports.
Zelensky’s arrival also comes as Arab states are growing closer to Russia, while also maintaining good relations with Ukraine. Russia’s economic ties to the Gulf and Egypt are particularly improving.
Earlier this month, Bahraini Foreign Minister Rashid Al Zayani visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky. Zayani also visited a Ukrainian bomb shelter during the trip, Al-Monitor reported.
Zelensky has been vocally critical of Iran’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Syria is also a major ally of Russia.
Know more: Most Arab League member states sent either their head of state or head of government to Jeddah for the summit. The United Arab Emirates, however, sent Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to the official Emirates News Agency. This comes amid rumors of a rivalry between the two states.
Sudan also notably sent Ambassador Dafallah Al-Haj Ali, the envoy of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, to the summit, according to the official Sudan News Agency. The Arab League held an energy meeting on the conflict in Sudan earlier this month.
This is a developing story and will be updated…
