Saudi Arabia sending $400 million worth of aid to Ukraine
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After being accused of siding with Russia in the war, Riyadh sends almost half a billion worth of aid to Ukraine.
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Saudi Arabia sending $400 million humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Saudi Arabia announced $400 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The agency revealed further details that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) made a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where the royal emphasized "the Kingdom's position of supporting everything that will contribute to de-escalation, and the Kingdom's readiness to continue the efforts of mediation."
Last month, Riyadh had a hand in the facilitation of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
Tensions have been brewing between Saudi Arabia and the United States as Riyadh refused to ramp up oil production, cutting production by 2 million barrels a day. This recent move has sheltered, in one way or another, Russia from the West-led sanctions which aimed to impede oil trade and competition.
The US has accused OPEC+, which has taken the oil cut decision, of siding with Russia on the war.
Earlier this week, media reported that US President Joe Biden is reconsidering Washington's relationship with Riyadh, citing John Kirby, the White House National Security Advisor.
"I think the president's been very clear that this is a relationship that we need to continue to re-evaluate, that we need to be willing to revisit," Kirby told CNN during an interview. "Certainly, in light of the OPEC decision, I think that's where he is."
According to a Treasury report, the US is concerned that OPEC's probable decision to reduce oil production will pose serious problems for the country and may even be interpreted as a hostile act.
Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal and Democrat Representative Ro Khanna proposed legislation to stop Washington from providing weapons to Riyadh, arguing that what the US regards as the kingdom's support for Russia deserves a "far-reaching review of the US-Saudi relationship."
Biden had also tried to convince the organization to increase its oil output in a bid to cool the red-hot energy prices, traveling to Saudi Arabia with hopes of persuading Saudi Arabia to promise to increase its oil output and relieve the pressure on the global supply chain.
Read next: KSA minister: High gas prices due to Washington's incompetency
