QATAR has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine and is open to playing a mediating role, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, said on Wednesday.
“We announced a few days ago our welcoming of the talks that took place on this issue in Riyadh and Jeddah,” Al-Ansari said during a press briefing.
“We issued special statements on this occasion, and the contacts of our leadership in Doha with counterparts in these countries have always contributed to this goal.”
He emphasised Qatar’s optimism regarding the ongoing talks and reiterated the country’s support for any peace-building efforts.
“We support all these efforts and welcome any possible role that the State of Qatar can play,” he added.
In line with its diplomatic outreach, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was recently delegated by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to visit Moscow to discuss Qatar’s potential contribution to resolving the conflict.
Al-Ansari also highlighted Qatar’s past involvement in international peace efforts, including its role in the now-suspended Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was brokered by the UN and Turkey in 2022 to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain during the war.
Diplomatic activity around a possible ceasefire has increased in recent months. On March 11, U.S. and Ukrainian delegations met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, followed by separate talks between U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian representatives on March 24 in Riyadh.
Following the meetings, the Ukrainian presidency issued statements expressing Kiev’s readiness to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, with the possibility of an extension based on mutual agreement. The proposed truce would include a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure and a potential revival of Black Sea grain corridor operations.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in June 2022, had allowed Ukraine to export grain, food, and fertilisers from three key ports, including Odesa. However, Russia withdrew from the deal in July 2023, citing unfulfilled commitments and security concerns over attacks on its vessels and coastal infrastructure.
Qatar’s call for peace aligns with its broader foreign policy of promoting dialogue and mediation in regional and global conflicts.
