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Ukraine’s Zelensky in Saudi Arabia for Arab League summit

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who's also attending, is expected to discuss the drug trade and Syrian refugees at his first summit since Syria was readmitted to the Arab League.

Volodymyr Zelensky at Arab League Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets officials before the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023. — Saudi Press Agency

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The leader criticized some in the region for "turning a blind eye" to Russia's war, but also thanked Saudi Arabia and others for their support.

The Ukrainian leader’s participation adds to an already historic summit in Jeddah that welcomed on Thursday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the first time in more than a decade. 

Al Arabiya reported early Friday afternoon local time that Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia for the summit. Reuters reported earlier that a French government plane would take Zelensky to Saudi Arabia and then bring him to the G-7 meeting in Japan. A diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that security precautions were high for the travel route that Zelensky has taken. 

 

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