Zelensky Addresses Saudi-Hosted Arab League Summit On Why They Should Stand Against Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to the G7 summit in Japan this weekend, where he's expected to address world leaders in person, including of course pressing them for more weapons and other aid. He'll travel there after his visit to Saudi Arabia.

On Friday he arrived in Jeddah - where oddly enough he's attending the annual Arab League summit being hosted by the Saudis. As it turns out, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is attending the same meeting, a first in 12 years. Typically Zelensky courts European and Western governments, but Time explains the rationale for the stopover as follows: 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of an Arab summit on Friday, where he was set to address leaders who have remained largely neutral on Russia’s invasion of his country, including many who maintain warm ties with Moscow.

Among those in attendance is Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been welcomed back into the Arab fold 12 years after Syria was suspended at the start of its civil war. Russian air strikes on civilian areas brought devastation to both countries, but in Syria they helped Assad cling to power.

Zelensky imposed sanctions on Bashar al-Assad weeks ago. Today, they will seen at the Arab summit. pic.twitter.com/FuDdGdVUhA

— Spriter (@Spriter99880) May 19, 2023

Zelensky is meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while in Jeddah, after which his plane departs for the G7 in Hiroshima.