Ukraine praises, Russia criticizes, what is the "diplomatic reward"?

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the peace conference in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, Russia "criticized" this as a doomed effort by the West...

Hội nghị hòa bình ở Saudi Arabia: Ukraine ngợi ca, Nga chỉ trích, đâu là 'phần thưởng ngoại giao'?

According to Politico, Saudi Arabia sees the meeting in Jeddah on Ukraine as an opportunity to present itself as a peace broker. (Source: AP)

Senior officials from about 40 countries attended the two-day weekend meeting in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported, as part of Ukraine’s efforts to build support among countries still hesitant to choose sides in the conflict. Russia was not invited to the event.

After the talks in Jeddah concluded, diplomats said there was broad acceptance that core principles of international law, such as respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, should be at the heart of future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. The Wall Street Journal said the meeting narrowed the gap between Ukraine and major developing countries on the terms for ending the conflict that has lasted more than a year.

China's participation

Following talks in Copenhagen, Denmark in June, the meeting in Jeddah was designed to be informal and did not produce a formal statement.

The biggest difference between the Copenhagen and Jeddah meetings was the number of attendees – with this latest one more than doubling the number of countries present at the previous talks.

Notably, the participation of China's representative - special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui - was assessed by the Guardian as "a great diplomatic bonus". Beijing was invited to attend the negotiations in Copenhagen but did not attend.

China “has been actively and positively involved in the idea of holding a third meeting at this level,” an EU source said.

Reuters quoted Mr. Li Hui as saying before the meeting, “We have many disagreements and we have heard different views, but the important thing is that our principles are shared.”

Observers say that as Russia's most important partner, China is seen as having a special role in building momentum for the talks and thereby also being able to bring some of Moscow's concerns and "red lines" into the discussions. The top leaders of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have actively lobbied for Beijing to attend.

Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, told the South China Morning Post that the attendance of Li Hui, who went on a peace mission to Europe in May, showed China's determination to find a peaceful solution and its ability to prevent the event from becoming "an anti-Russian, Western-led multilateral conference aimed at isolating Moscow".

According to expert Wang Yiwei, Beijing "can act as a bridge to convey the views of both sides", and can also seek common ground with other countries and cooperate with Russia to agree to an early ceasefire.

Contrasting views between Ukraine and Russia

In a speech on August 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the meeting in Jeddah as support for his 10-point formula for a future peace.

The key point in President Zelensky's "peace formula" is the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the restoration of the Eastern European country's territorial integrity.

According to NTV , the Ukrainian leader acknowledged that although there were differences between the participating countries, the international order based on rules needed to be restored. Mr. Zelensky emphasized: "Different continents have different political approaches to world problems, but they all share the primacy of international law."

Earlier this week, Mr Zelensky expressed hope that the initiative would lead to a peace summit of leaders from around the world this fall to adopt the principles of a solution based on his 10-point formula.

As an "outsider" at the meeting in Jeddah, Russia expressed dissatisfaction with the event attended by 4/5 members of the BRICS group (including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

TASS news agency on August 6 quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov describing the meeting as "a reflection of the West's plot to continue its futile, doomed efforts to rally the international community, and more precisely the Southern Hemisphere, in support of the so-called Zelensky formula."

Attending the meeting in Jeddah, Indian National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval reiterated New Delhi’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, stressing that its approach “has been and will always be to promote dialogue and diplomacy” – the only path to peace. India remains an active partner, ready to seek a comprehensive, lasting solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Like China, India maintains close ties with Russia and has refused to condemn Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine.

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