ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s hosting of talks between the United States and Russia regarding the ongoing Ukraine war. Baghdad praised “the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the talks” between Moscow and Washington, calling it an “important step towards enhancing security and peace at the regional and international levels.” Following a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US administration stated on Tuesday that it had agreed to hold talks with Moscow aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The Iraqi foreign affairs ministry emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the talks “reaffirms the kingdom’s commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving international conflicts” and “achieving regional and international stability.” The move is also seen as a boost to Riyadh’s status as a key global actor and mediator in international conflicts. The conflict began in February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering a war that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. The US and its allies have supported Ukraine with military aid and imposed sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow has strengthened its ties with countries such as China and Iran. Despite various diplomatic efforts, including negotiations mediated by neutral countries, the war remains unresolved, with fighting continuing east of the country. Importantly, these talks come in the aftermath of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. A coalition of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8 toppled Assad’s regime. The group’s leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was appointed as transitional president on January 29. Russia had been a staunch ally of Assad, providing military support during its years-long conflict with rebel and militia groups, including the HTS, since 2011. However, in recent months, Moscow has signaled a major shift in its stance. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Sharaa, expressing support for his government and reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to Syria’s unity and sovereignty. Prior to that, Sharaa met with a senior Russian delegation in Damascus in late January, where he emphasized that for ties to be restored between Damascus and Moscow, Russia “must address past mistakes.”
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