Riyadh, 16 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend an Arab summit this week in the kingdom as a guest of honour, diplomatic sources in Riyadh told dpa.

The summit will be held in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Friday.

Sources said this will be an opportunity for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss with Zelensky ways to reach an end to the war in Ukraine, through finding common ground that would lead to starting negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

So far, there has been no confirmation from Kiev.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.

Last year, Riyadh said it mediated between Russia and Ukraine for the release of 10 prisoners from different countries.

The kingdom, and its Gulf neighbours, have maintained relations with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last year - resisting Western pressure.

Friday's summit will also be the first since Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League, more than a decade after its membership was suspended amid its civil war. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been invited to the summit.

In the West, talks with the Syrian ruler are still off the table, after the EU and others imposed extensive sanctions 12 years ago in response to al-Assad's violent crackdown on anti-government protests that later resulted in the civil war.

The summit also comes after oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia and its regional rival, Iran, agreed to restore ties in March.

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