(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the emir of Qatar on Wednesday discussed ways to end Ukraine’s 27-month-old full-scale conflict with Russia and efforts to keep channels of communication open, the Qatari state news agency QNA reported.
Zelenskiy also commented on his talks at the Lusail Palace with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, including preparations for next week’s “Peace Summit” in Switzerland to which Russia is not invited.
QNA said the talks focused on developments in the conflict, “including the international community’s efforts to stop the war, protect civilians, and keep all channels of communication open to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means”.
Efforts to boost bilateral relations were also discussed, the agency said.
Zelenskiy thanked the emir for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and for the emirate’s backing for U.N. resolutions condemning Russia.
He also expressed thanks for Qatar’s efforts in securing the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the conflict and said both sides would continue their cooperation.
Zelenskiy has been expanding contacts and travelling widely in order to persuade more countries, particularly in the “Global South”, to attend the Summit scheduled for June 15-16 near the Swiss city of Lucerne.
Ukrainian officials say more than 100 countries and organisations have agreed to attend. Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister was in China on Wednesday to try to persuade Beijing to attend the gathering.
Russia dismisses the meeting as pointless without its participation.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ron Popeski)
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