Foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council countries will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday at the headquarters of the GCC Secretariat in Riyadh.
The top diplomats will discuss several reports, strategic dialogues with countries and global blocs, in addition to the latest regional and international developments.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to participate in Wednesday's meeting in Riyadh, and another video conference call is expected between GCC foreign ministers and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Gulf sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
In its 152nd session, the GCC foreign ministers’ meeting will address the Ukrainian-Russian crisis and efforts to find a political solution and open humanitarian corridors.
Speaking under the conditions of anonymity, Gulf sources revealed that the meeting will also discuss the strengthening of Gulf-Russian relations.
“It is likely that a discussion will take place about the OPEC+ agreement and the continuous coordination in this regard,” sources added, explaining that Lavrov's visit comes one day before the OPEC+ meeting in Vienna.
The OPEC+ group is expected to abide by the oil production agreement that was reached in 2021.
Lavrov arrived in Riyadh after departing from Bahrain where he met with the King and Crown Prince and discussed the war in Ukraine.
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa discussed with Lavrov regional and international developments, including the situation in Ukraine.
The monarch underscored the “importance of resolving the conflict in Ukraine in a way that achieves the interests of the two neighboring countries and the security and stability of the European continent, as well as international peace and security.”
King Hamad pointed out to the need to engage in dialogue and diplomatic solutions in accordance with the rules of international law in order to reach a political settlement that ends the conflict, guarantees security and peace for all parties, preserves the lives of civilians, and delivers humanitarian and relief aid for refugees and displaced persons.
