Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia for the 32nd summit of the Arab League, which was held Friday, ahead of his trip to Japan for a G7 meeting.
Senior Saudi figures welcomed Zelenskyy as he stepped off the French government plane that took him from Poland.
“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, and energy cooperation. KSA plays a significant role and we are ready to take our cooperation to a new level,” Zelensky posted on his Twitter account.
In a speech to the summit, Zelenskyy urged more support for his people.
“I am sure we can all be united in saving people from the cages of Russian prisons,” he said, speaking in English.
“We will not submit to any foreign country or colonizers. Our goal is to protect the Ukrainian people. Ukraine did not choose war and did not engage in any hostilities inside the territory of other countries,” he noted.
“What is happening in our country is a war, not just a conflict, Ukraine is forced to continue fighting."
“We do not possess the missiles that the enemy possesses, and we do not have air capabilities equal to the capabilities of the enemy, but we remain strong because we know that the truth is on our side."
“We are trying to push the invaders from our land, anyone who defends his land and protects his children from enslavement, such a warrior is on the path of justice, and I am proud to say that I represent these warriors and fighters and all the Ukrainian people,” he added.
The Ukrainian president met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman mediated in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict before, especially with the release of prisoners of war last year, including 10 foreigners who were captured by Russia in Ukraine.
A statement from the presidency said that Zelenskyy thanked the crown prince for his support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
“The President thanked the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy's office said, adding that he had invited the crown prince to visit Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also met with the Iraqi-Sudanese Prime Minister, who thanked him for "Iraq's solidarity" and his "firm position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state."
Zelenskyy also held talks with the heads of the delegations of the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait, with whom he discussed the Ukrainian peace formula. The formula refers to the Ukrainian leader's peace plan, which includes the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders.
He discussed with the head of the UAE delegation issues related to trade and investment, as well as "global food security and the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative."
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