RIYADH
Saudi Arabia has won a diplomatic victory by securing freedom for foreign fighters captured in Ukraine, signalling the value of the crown prince’s alliance with Russia to Western partners seeking to isolate Moscow over the war there, analysts say.
Kristian Ulrichsen, a political scientist at Rice University’s Baker Institute in the United States, said the working relationship between Saudi Arabia and Russia appears to have been a crucial element in the choice of intermediary.
Prince Faisal said the crown prince had engaged with Putin to work out a prisoner deal since April, when he “understood” the issue of the five British citizens following a visit to the kingdom by then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
World leaders have beat a path to Riyadh to ask for more oil production.
But Saudi Arabia has shown little readiness to join the effort to isolate Russia.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Italy poised for hard-right leader as country votes in snap election.
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