A confidential gathering of national security advisers from Ukraine, its G7 partners, and several nations from the global South convened in Saudi Arabia on December 16 to discuss Ukraine’s peace process. The parties aimed to secure clear backing for negotiations with the Russian Federation, but the discussions did not yield substantive progress, according to reports cited by Bloomberg based on confidential sources.
Several attendees indicated that Ukraine and its G7 allies remained resistant to direct engagement with Russia, even as voices from the global South urged exploring more direct dialogue. The aim, one briefing notes, was to reassure a broader group of states enough to incentivize participation in any peace process, rather than to secure immediate consensus on terms. This framing suggests negotiators sought to broaden the coalition supporting negotiations while managing divergent national priorities.
Bloomberg reported that major participants such as China, the United Arab Emirates, and Brazil did not send formal delegations to the meeting, though Brazil transmitted its position in written form. Other recorded participants included officials from India, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia, who attended in person. The absence of some key players in person did not necessarily diminish the attempt to establish a shared framework for future talks, as noted in the proceedings and subsequent summaries.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that a December discussion occurred with Western nations and certain global South representatives centered on Zelensky’s peace formula, signaling the continuing fragmentation and realignment in international responses to Ukraine’s crisis. The assertions underscored the persistent debate over how such a formula could be aligned with the varied strategic interests of major outside powers.
There has also been movement around expectations for the G7 agenda in 2024, with insiders suggesting that Ukraine would occupy a central position in discussions and policy considerations. Analysts observe that the security landscape remains highly fluid, with multiple forums attempting to translate evolving priorities into concrete policy steps that can sustain support for Kyiv while addressing broader regional and global security concerns.