Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated on Thursday that the talks hosted by Saudi Arabia at the beginning of this week represented a "breakthrough" for Kyiv, demonstrating that it is possible to rally global support behind the ten-point plan proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the Russian war. Kuleba said, "If a country wants to be at the forefront of the global political scene, it needs to be part of these coordination meetings." He noted that the number of countries interested in participating in gatherings like the Jeddah Summit "has increased significantly" in recent weeks, indicating that these events lay a vital foundation for future discussions regarding Ukraine's vision for peace. He added, "We are completely satisfied with the progress of this process. I believe the meeting in Jeddah was a breakthrough because it brought us together, for the first time, with countries representing the entire world, not just Europe and North America."
Kuleba downplayed the idea that Ukraine's slow counteroffensive, which began in June to reclaim territories occupied by Russia, might weaken Western support for Ukraine at a crucial time and force it into negotiations. He acknowledged that some "voices" from citizens in the West questioned the rationale behind their governments' support for Ukraine, but he noted that he does not see any indications from officials of a decline in support. He stated, "What matters to us is that governments remain on track... and they are doing so so far."
Kuleba expressed optimism regarding Ukraine ultimately receiving the long-range missiles it desires from the United States and Germany, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper behind Russian lines. He stated, "They are conducting their own calculations and analyses... and I believe they will release these options... but it takes more time."
