Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab League summit on Friday in which Syrian President Bashar Assad was welcomed back after a 12-year suspension and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to rally support against Russia
Both nations have been devastated by Russian bombings, but in Syria they arrived at Assad’s invitation and helped him maintain control throughout the country’s protracted civil war.
A recent diplomatic flurry by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is pursuing regional rapprochement with the same fervour he previously applied to the kingdom’s fight with its archrival Iran, is the cause of the strange pairing of the two leaders in the same conference. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has reestablished diplomatic ties with Iran, is putting an end to its war in Yemen against rebels who are supported by Iran, and has taken the lead in calling for Syria to rejoin the Arab League. In welcoming Assad and Zelensky, the Saudi crown prince stated his support for “whatever helps in reducing the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.” The kingdom, according to him, “is prepared to exert efforts for mediation.”