Saudi Crown Prince, Zelenskyy Discuss Ukraine-Russia Crisis

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, receives Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, receives Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Zelenskyy Discuss Ukraine-Russia Crisis

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, receives Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, receives Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, stressed on Tuesday the Kingdom’s keenness on supporting all international efforts aimed at resolving the Ukrainian-Russian crisis to restore peace.

Crown Prince Mohammed received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh.

He added that Saudi Arabia will continue efforts to ease the impact of the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.

Crown Prince Mohammed and Zelenskyy discussed cooperation between their countries and the latest developments in the conflict.

Zelenskyy praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts towards resolving the crisis.

Ukraine continues to “rely on Saudi Arabia's ongoing active support” in pushing forward with what has been described as a “Peace Formula” to end the full-scale invasion, which marked its second anniversary over the weekend, Zelenskyy said in a message on X, formerly Twitter, before he arrived in Riyadh.

Zelenskyy has presented a 10-point peace formula that, among other things, seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for war crimes — at a time when the two sides are fighting from largely static positions along a roughly 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Such ideas are rejected out of hand by Moscow.   

“The second topic is the return of POWs and deportees,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The Kingdom’s leadership has already contributed to the release of our people. I am confident that this meeting will also yield results.”    

He added that economic cooperation also would be discussed in Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom has previously acted as a mediator in prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia.



UAE and Syria to Resume Flights 

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 13, 2025. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 13, 2025. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
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UAE and Syria to Resume Flights 

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 13, 2025. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 13, 2025. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Monday the resumption of flights between the UAE and Syria.

In a statement, the GCAA said that joint coordination is currently underway to complete the necessary procedures for restarting flights in a manner that boosts air traffic and supports passenger and cargo movement between them.

The announcement was made shortly after a visit by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the UAE last week where he met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for talk on a number of issues of mutual interest. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments.