Iran has expressed its support for any effort to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to statements made by Iranian foreign ministry representative Nasser Kanani Chafi on Monday. Chafi specifically mentioned the upcoming peace talks that are set to take place in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Iran backs these negotiations even though they exclude Russia.
In response, Russia has stated that it will closely monitor the upcoming negotiations in Jeddah, which are scheduled to occur early next month. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the talks, stating, “It remains to be seen what goals they set and what the organizers plan to talk about.” Peskov further noted that any attempts to contribute to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine “are worthy of a positive assessment.”
According to sources at the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia intends to host international peace talks on Ukraine on August 5th and 6th. The event is said to have already garnered invitations for approximately 30 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and nations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Notably, Russia has not been invited to participate in these talks.
The Wall Street Journal describes these negotiations as a follow-up to a previous meeting that occurred in Copenhagen in late June. During this meeting, representatives from Kiev and their Western allies attempted to persuade neutral developing countries to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
The upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia are expected to center around Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s proposal consisting of ten points. These points aim to establish peace and create mechanisms to prevent future conflicts. The proposal includes provisions such as Russia withdrawing its forces to the borders claimed by Ukraine, paying reparations, and submitting itself to war crimes tribunals. However, Moscow has consistently rejected these terms as unrealistic and has suggested that Zelensky’s plan indicates that Ukraine is not genuinely interested in engaging in meaningful dialogue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russia remains open to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. However, he also highlighted that Ukraine, the United States, and NATO have all actively refused to engage in talks with Moscow.
This latest development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict underscores the complexities and challenges in finding a peaceful resolution. The involvement of various countries in the peace talks reflects the international community’s concern and interest in resolving the conflict. As the negotiations in Saudi Arabia approach, there will be heightened attention on the outcome and whether meaningful progress can be made towards peace in Ukraine.
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