Ukraine peace process will need compromise, says Saudi foreign minister

Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd poses with Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during the Summit on Peace in Ukraine. (Reuters)
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  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks after arrival in Switzerland

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that any credible peace talks on the conflict in Ukraine would need Russia’s participation and that it would involve “difficult compromise.”

Prince Faisal was speaking at a conference in Switzerland aimed at engineering peace between Russia and Ukraine, and he added that Saudi Arabia was committed to helping to bring an end to the conflict.

He said: “We believe it is important that the international community encourage any step toward serious negotiations, which will require difficult compromise as part of a road map that leads to peace.”

He reiterated his country’s support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis and ending the conflict, stressing that the Kingdom “supports reducing the escalation in Ukraine and seeking negotiated political solutions.”

The Saudi minister arrived at the Lake Lucerne location to head the Kingdom’s delegation at the Ukraine Peace Summit earlier on Saturday. He was set to discuss with the leaders and representatives of the participating countries ways to “achieve peace and intensify efforts to reach a solution that leads to ending the crisis and sparing civilians human suffering,” the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said

He was also scheduled to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, where more than 100 representatives from countries and organizations have gathered.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Jeddah earlier this week on an official visit and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who affirmed the Kingdom’s support for all international endeavors and efforts aimed at resolving the crisis, and discussed ways to mitigate the humanitarian impact in the region.