Saudi Arabia will host peace talks on Ukraine this weekend to complement discussions at the summit in Copenhagen last month.
The talks on Saturday and Sunday were confirmed by a Saudi Foreign Ministry source. They follow the Ukraine Peace Summit held in the Danish capital.
The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, confirmed late on Sunday that Saudi Arabia would host the discussions, during which a peace plan is expected to be discussed.
Musaed Al Aiban, a member of the cabinet of ministers and the kingdom’s National Security Adviser, has sent invitations to at least 30 countries expected to participate in the summit, Saudi pan-Arab Asharq Al Awsat newspaper reported.
A Saudi Foreign Ministry source also confirmed to The National that preparations have started for the two-day summit and that it would likely be in the coastal city of Jeddah, the same city which hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a surprise guest at the Arab League summit in May.
“The Ukrainian Peace Formula contains 10 fundamental points, the implementation of which will not only ensure peace for Ukraine but also create mechanisms to counter future conflicts in the world,” Mr Yermak said, confirming the talks would be held in Saudi Arabia, without naming Jeddah as the location.
“We are deeply convinced that the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis because the war is taking place on our land,” he added.
In the US, the White House National Security Council welcomed “the initiative of Saudi Arabia to host a meeting this upcoming weekend to discuss principles for peace in Ukraine and we appreciate Saudi Arabia’s engagement in this process”.
“We expect attendees will discuss the principles for peace and how we can achieve a just and durable peace in Ukraine,” a statement said.
Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University, said the talks were a way for Saudi Arabia to show its “diplomatic muscle”.
“They can talk to everyone, and I think that's part of the point, and they also have financial muscle,” Mr Haykel told The National.
The war in Ukraine has been “problematic” for Saudi Arabia, said Mr Haykel, with the kingdom reluctant to choose sides in the conflict. Helping to resolve the war would allow it to maintain relations with both the US and Russia.
“They don't consider this their war and they want to be able to remain on the good side of both the Russians and the Americans,” Mr Haykel added.
While Saudi Arabia has yet to publicly confirm the summit, Saudi-owned government channels have been running reports of the kingdom’s mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia since Sunday.
The UK, South Africa, Poland and the EU are among countries that have confirmed attendance, according to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal, while US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is also expected to attend the summit in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia and other countries played a pivotal role in arranging prisoner exchanges with Ukraine. In September, Russia released 10 prisoners of war captured in Ukraine after diplomatic mediation efforts by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
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Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
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TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
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2 Kuwaiti teams
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Company name: NutriCal
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Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
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Price, base: Dhs850,000
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Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
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• For more information visit the library network's website.
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Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
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- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Tomorrow 2021
Summer special
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
