RIYADH: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Riyadh on Monday, where he met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The discussions centered on “recent international and regional developments,” according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
Lavrov also engaged with the foreign ministers of the GCC, an organization that includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, all of which have traditionally maintained close ties with the United States.
Despite its strategic oil collaborations with Moscow, Saudi Arabia has worked to balance its relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, positioning itself as a potential mediator. The kingdom has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and provided significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi emphasized the Council’s stance of neutrality, stating that the GCC countries maintain an “equal distance” from both Russia and Ukraine.
Additionally, the United Arab Emirates has played a mediating role in recent prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, with the most recent exchange in August resulting in the release of 230 captives.
