Kremlin wants to know purpose of talks on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

According to Reuters, quoting The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia will invite Western powers, Ukraine, and key developing countries to the discussions. Kyiv and Western countries believe that the non-Russian talks would result in worldwide backing for peaceful conditions advantageous to Ukraine.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Of course, Russia will follow this meeting. We need to understand what goals are set and what will be discussed. Any attempt to promote a peaceful settlement deserves a positive evaluation."

Peskov, though, reiterated Moscow's position that there are presently no grounds for peace negotiations with Kyiv.

"The Kyiv regime does not want and cannot want peace, as long as it is used exclusively as a tool in the war of the collective West with Russia," he said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already stated that he is willing to resolve the situation.

"President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that an African initiative - which envisages confidence-building measures followed by a cessation of hostilities - could be a basis for peace in Ukraine but that Ukrainian attacks on Russia made this very hard to realize," the publication writes. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the concept of a ceasefire, which would give Russia control of nearly a fifth of his country and allow its soldiers to recover after 17 months of war.