Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia: main events and statements

On Friday, May 19, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on his first ever official visit to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Summit of the League of Arab States. The Ukrainian leader held a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud and other bilateral negotiations, in particular, with the heads of delegations of the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait.

TSN.ua collected information about the main events and statements made during this visit.

About the protection of the Muslims of Crimea

The leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, accompanies the President of Ukraine on his trip. The issue of protecting the Muslim community, which faces repression due to the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation, has become one of the key topics during this visit.

"Crimea was the first to suffer from Russian occupation, and the majority of those facing repression in occupied Crimea are Muslims," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his Telegram channel, immediately upon arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Subsequently, he emphasized the same in his speech at the Summit of the League of Arab States. The Ukrainian President once again emphasized that Crimea, which is the center of Muslim culture in Ukraine, became the first victim of Russian aggression.

"For centuries, the Crimean Tatar people have been and must remain an integral and strong component of the world's Muslim community," Zelenskyy said, addressing the leaders of the Arab world.

About the return of prisoners

During the meeting with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, expressed gratitude for the successful participation of Saudi Arabia in the return of 10 foreign prisoners of war from Russian captivity and expressed interest in continuing joint efforts to free the prisoners.

Later, in his speech at the Summit of the League of Arab States, he returned to this topic again.

"We already have a positive experience with Saudi Arabia - regarding the release of our people captured by Russia. We can expand this experience! And even if here, at the Summit, there are people who have a different view of the war taking place on our land, calling it a conflict, I am sure: we can all be united in saving our people from the cages of Russian prisons. Zelenskyy emphasized.
About the weakness of Russia

Speaking at the Arab League Summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia is a weak country, and its aggressive policy comes not from strength, but from the realization that the age of empires has passed. He emphasized that Ukraine manages to win the war, even when its enemy has an advantage in weapons.

"War was never the choice of Ukrainians. Our troops did not go to foreign lands, we do not engage in annexations and plundering of the resources of other nations. But we will never submit to any foreigners and colonizers. That's why we fight! And I am sure that all your nations will understand this primary emotion of ours. I am also confident that all your nations... they will understand the main call that I want to leave here, in Jeddah. A noble call to all of you - to support the defense of our people, including the Ukrainian Muslim community!" declared the Ukrainian leader.

About the food crisis and the peace formula

In his speech at the Summit, and later during bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations of the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Kuwait, President Zelenskyy recalled the content of the Ukrainian peace formula.

"You can see how our formula works on the example of food security... Even when war is thrown into our home, we do everything so that the homes of other peoples also survive. We managed to launch the Black Sea Grain Initiative and partially lift the Russian naval blockade of our ports. This stabilized the food markets and helped many people, including the Arab League nations," he said.

The Ukrainian leader offered the delegations present at the Summit to choose the direction from the Ukrainian peace formula that they consider appropriate. "I invite everyone who respects peace to join the implementation of the peace formula and thus reduce enmity and wars, suffering and evil," he emphasized.

About energy cooperation with Kuwait

During the talks with the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Head of the Ukrainian state expressed gratitude to Kuwait for consistently supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine against the backdrop of full-scale Russian aggression,  as evidenced by numerous votes in favor of relevant resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the prospects for practical cooperation between Ukraine and Kuwait in a range of humanitarian issues. The President thanked Kuwait for its support in the energy sector and the parties agreed to enhance cooperation in these areas.

Read also:

• The Air Force spoke about the features of the nighttime massive missile strike

• There is a certain shortage: Ukrainians were told whether there would be power blackouts

• During the night missile strike, the Russians hit an energy infrastructure facility: what is known

• "We will keep pressing": Zelenskyy's team commented on the "Korean" plan for Ukraine

• The Russians attacked Ukraine's energy sector again: there is a blackout in 5 regions