Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Aug 23, 2025

Gulf states could play key role in Ukraine mediation

Gulf states could play key role in Ukraine mediation

Many of us, myself included, did not imagine that the crisis in Ukraine would come to this.

Born after the Second World War, I — like many other Europeans — grew up in peace, far from hostilities. The idea of a war on the outskirts of Europe seemed impossible, yet that is what is happening here and now. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that it could last a while, but I am not so sure.

The responses in support of Ukraine are numerous, but no country has yet decided to send troops to back it up on the front line. France has volunteered to send 500 soldiers to Romania as part of NATO missions, but this is hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The EU immediately imposed very severe financial sanctions, although measures to at least partially exclude Russia from the SWIFT international banking exchange system took time to be agreed. Several member states initially held back the implementation of this measure for fear of the economic consequences on themselves. International bodies, including NATO and the Council of Europe, have increased their consultations and emergency meetings.

The forces of Vladimir Putin, the master of the Kremlin, continued steadily on their way to Kyiv amid all this opposition.

At a UN meeting last week, Abdulaziz Alateek, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the organization, spoke on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and recalled Security Council Resolution 2202, which was adopted unanimously in 2015, and called for de-escalation.

The first matter that comes to mind is obviously that of peace and security in Europe. Could the Gulf states play a role in building this peace? This is not a rhetorical question and the answer is yes. In the event of Russia failing to supply gas to Europe, the Gulf and the US would become our main sources.

The Ukraine crisis is leading Europe to rethink its energy strategy and find other gas suppliers at reasonable prices, which shale gas from the US does not allow (and which, by the way, is an ecological disaster). Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, which are already present on the European market, will therefore be our doubly privileged partners.

For a while, it seemed obvious that Gulf support for Ukraine would have been immediate, but the situation seems to have changed in recent years. The UAE’s abstention on the UN Security Council’s resolution on Saturday was interpreted by some as a lack of support for an international condemnation initiative. I do not see it as such. To abstain is also to take a stand.

The UAE is an essential player in 21st-century diplomacy. The country, fortified by the Abraham Accords, uses committed but cautious diplomacy, mindful of regional and international balances.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is engaged in a modernization plan and is showing unprecedented openness to the world. It has been looking to diversify its alliances since the war in Iraq.

The decision to host a French military base in Abu Dhabi is clear proof of the Gulf’s strategy and shows an informed and relevant choice.

The erratic and unpredictable policies of the US, as exemplified by its unilateral decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, have sown doubts among its historical allies in the Gulf.

The UAE, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, knows that the Gulf is the surest alternative for Europe’s energy supply.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
×