China Applauds Ukraine Talks in Saudi Amid Russian Skepticism

China praised the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, despite Russia dismissing the summit as "doomed to fail." The meeting, attended by over 40 nations including China, Ukraine, and the United States, helped to consolidate international consensus on the issue. While the summit did not yield significant results, Ukraine considered China's attendance a diplomatic victory. China, a close ally of Russia, has deepened ties with Saudi Arabia in recent years and is increasingly eager to be seen as an international peacekeeper. Russia, on the other hand, scoffed at the talks but acknowledged the potential usefulness of BRICS countries like China and India in conveying common sense to the Western supporters of Ukraine.