Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, one day after a meeting there between top Russian and U.S. officials, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian leader told AFP.
Last week, Zelensky announced a trip along with stops in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey without giving dates, adding that he had no plans to meet Russian or U.S. officials.
Sergiy Nykyforov told AFP on Monday that Zelensky would visit Saudi Arabia with his wife as part of a "long-planned" official visit.
His trip will come one day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with U.S. officials as part of what the Kremlin says are efforts to repair Moscow's relations with Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday and is due to speak with officials on Gaza.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said that he held a "meaningful conversation with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi" during his visit to the UAE.
The Gulf state has played an important role in facilitating the exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war, and Zelensky said its mediation had "saved many lives."
He also said the two sides had signed an economic cooperation document and discussed humanitarian issues.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
