Saudi Foreign Minister provides $410 million in aid to Ukraine
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In the first official visit of a Saudi foreign minister to Ukraine, Faisal Bin Farhan meets with Ukrainian President and provides aid to Kiev.
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Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, center, speaks during a joint press conference with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, left, and Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 (Genya Savilov/Pool Photo via AP)
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced that his country provided $410 million in aid to Ukraine.
Bin Farhan's statements came during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier today, in an official visit that is the first for a Saudi foreign minister to Ukraine.
After his meeting with Zelensky, the Saudi foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia is "discussing with all parties opportunities to settle the Ukrainian crisis peacefully," and added that they "will provide $410 million in aid to Ukraine."
Receiving Minister of Foreign of Affairs of the Kingdom of #SaudiArabia 🇸🇦 His Highness @FaisalbinFarhan in the capital of #Ukraine 🇺🇦! A proper sign of thriving bilateral cooperation opening the doors to solid partnership for many years to come! pic.twitter.com/BAHyiHVSSe
— Anatolii Petrenko (@AmbUkraineKSA) February 26, 2023
Earlier today, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba received his Saudi counterpart in Kiev, and according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's statement, the two sides discussed a range of issues on the bilateral and regional agenda.
The ministers also agreed to simplify procedures that allow joint and effective work of small and medium enterprises from Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba welcomed his Saudi counterpart @FaisalbinFarhan in Kyiv. They discussed a range of issues on bilateral and regional agenda. Ministers agreed to effectively streamline engagement of small and medium businesses from Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/Hk3fr6UKMK
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) February 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Anatoly Petrenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Saudi Araba tweeted: "Receiving Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Highness Faisal Bin Farhan in the capital of Ukraine! A proper sign of thriving bilateral cooperation opening the doors to solid partnership for many years to come!"
Saudi Arabia's announcement of aid to Kiev comes after months of US accusations of Riyadh aligning with Moscow.
Read: Russia-KSA relations may reach level of strategic partnership: Ru. Amb
In October, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman rejected Western allegations of Saudi Arabia's siding with Russia in its military operation in Ukraine, describing these accusations as "false".
This came after Saudi Arabia pushed for an oil cut on October 5, which rankled Democrats in Washington.
OPEC+ had announced that it was slashing 2 million barrels of oil per day, leading the Democrats to accuse Riyadh of taking Russia's side in that decision.
Consequently, White House National Security advisor John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden was re-evaluating Washington's ties to Saudi Arabia.
