US and allies convene secret meeting with Ukraine to discuss peace plan – Bloomberg

Last month, a secret meeting was held between Ukraine, its G7 allies, and a small group of Global South countries to rally support for Kyiv's peace plan.

According to Rubryka, this was reported by Bloomberg with reference to its sources.

"The previously undisclosed meeting of national security advisers on December 16 took place in Saudi Arabia after larger, highly publicized meetings aimed at countering Moscow's attempts to divide and portray Ukraine and its allies as unwilling to negotiate an end to the war," Bloomberg writes.

It was noted that the secrecy was partly aimed at making the participating countries feel more comfortable at the meeting.

"According to the participants, the smaller format made it possible to more freely and openly discuss the peace formula in Ukraine and plans to advance this process, as well as the principles of potential cooperation with Russia in the future," the agency notes.

No significant progress was made in Riyadh, according to Bloomberg sources familiar with the meeting. According to them, Ukraine and its allies from the G7 continue to resist the calls of the countries of the Global South to interact directly with Russia.

It is also reported that while senior officials from India, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye joined the December meeting in Riyadh, other major countries of the Global South that have attended some of the previous significant sessions, including China, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates, did not send their representatives.

Many participating countries see Beijing as a critical factor influencing Moscow. According to agency sources, Brazil, which chairs the G20 this year, sent a written statement.

Kyiv and its G7 allies reiterated their view that a just peace involves respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They said Russian President Vladimir Putin's goals have not changed, and he shows no severe signs of intention to conduct substantive negotiations. Allies have clarified that they will continue to support Ukraine, and the EU and the US have stated that they are confident that support packages will be agreed upon.