Ukraine holds secret talks with G7, Global South to rally support for peace plan - Bloomberg

Bloomberg reports, citing its own sources familiar with the matter.

The meeting of national security advisers, which was not previously disclosed, took place on December 16 in Saudi Arabia.

The secrecy was partly aimed at making the participating countries feel more comfortable about participating in the meeting. According to the participants, the smaller format allowed for a freer and more frank discussion of the so-called Ukrainian peace formula and plans to move this process forward, as well as the principles of potential future engagement with Russia.

Kyiv and its G7 allies reiterated their view that a just peace requires respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin's goals have not changed, and he shows no sign of seriously wanting to engage in meaningful talks.

Allies made it clear that they will continue to support Ukraine, and the EU and the US expressed confidence that support packages will be agreed.

Ukraine and its allies have scheduled the next meeting of the enlarged group in Switzerland next week on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos and invited more than 100 countries to attend. 

Kyiv wants to hold a leaders' summit on the project early this year and use it as a springboard to create a plan based on a set of agreed principles as a basis for any future negotiations with Moscow.

Some countries believe that a summit at the level of leaders in the coming months is premature, while others want to engage Russia immediately.

The key point of the Ukrainian peace formula is the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine. Other points include the return of deported children and prisoners of war, as well as food and energy security.

All participants in the discussion in Saudi Arabia recognized Ukraine's right to self-defense and agreed on the need to uphold key UN principles - including respect for the territorial integrity of states - and international law.