Riyadh, 5 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Saudi Arabia said it will host a meeting for top security officials on Saturday with the aim of finding a "political and diplomatic way" to end war on Ukraine.

National Security Advisors and representatives of a number of countries will meet in the coastal city of Jeddah, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported, in the first official confirmation of the meeting by the kingdom.

"Hosting this meeting marks a continuation of the humanitarian initiatives and efforts exerted" by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his communication with the leadership of both Russia and Ukraine since the early days of the crisis, SPA added.

The Saudi government hopes the meeting "contributes to reinforcing dialogue and cooperation... to ensure a solution for the crisis through political and diplomatic means and in a way that strengthens international peace and security, sparing the world further humanitarian, security, and economic repercussions of the crisis."

Saudi Arabia did not state which countries will be represented at the meeting.

Earlier in the week, sources said that officials from the United States, European countries, Turkey and Egypt are expected to take part.

Russia, however, will not attend. A Kremlin spokesman said that Moscow will monitor the meeting.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Last year, Riyadh said it helped with the release of prisoners of war.

The oil-rich kingdom and its Gulf neighbours have so far resisted Western pressure to cut ties with Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 17 months ago.

Photo: MIA archive