By Turki Al Mutairi | Contributing Writer
On February 26, 2023, a historic agreement was signed upon the first visit by Saudi officials to Kyiv in more than 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The agreement includes a $400 million humanitarian deal in which Saudi Arabia commits to providing aid to Ukraine. This action follows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s pledge to provide further humanitarian aid to Ukraine during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in October 2022.
The agreement, co-signed by Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and Oleksandr Kubrakov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, includes a joint cooperation program to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine worth $100 million. The memorandum also includes the financing of oil derivatives worth $300 million as a grant submitted by the government of Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), signed by SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, and Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Glushchenko.
During the visit, Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated that the Kingdom was working with Ukraine to mitigate the economic effects of the conflict in the country. He also discussed opportunities for continued investment cooperation with Ukraine and expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to contribute to alleviating the human impact of the conflict. The two countries also discussed several regional and international issues and developments of common concern.
Given its standing in the United Nations on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Saudi Arabia’s action is noteworthy. Saudi Arabia backed the United Nations general assembly Resolution titled “Territorial Integrity, Defending the Principles of the UN Charter” on October 12, 2022. Also, on February 23, 2023, the Kingdom voted in favor of a resolution demanding Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and calling for an end to hostilities there. Additionally, Riyadh led efforts that succeeded in the release of ten prisoners of war on September 21, 2022, as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
The $400 million pledge from the Kingdom to Ukraine provides urgent relief for the European nation, which has been struggling with economic and humanitarian issues as a consequence of its continuing Russia-Ukraine war. This action also demonstrates the dedication and readiness of Saudi Arabia part to global stability and to have an active role in the international community.