Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Ukraine for the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 30 years ago.
The office of the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, published a video clip of him meeting Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Sunday.
Zelensky said he expects the meeting “will provide a new impetus to further intensify our mutually beneficial dialogue.”
He continued, “Thank you for supporting peace in Ukraine, our sovereignty, and our territorial integrity. This is very important for us and our society.”
Saudi Arabia has followed a neutral course in the conflict. The kingdom brokered a prisoner exchange last year, in which two US citizens and five Britons who were being held by Russia were released.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, called the meeting a success in a post on the Telegram app.
“Ukraine will receive real help from Saudi Arabia,” the Ukrainian official said. “The presidential office signed two documents to formalize a $400 million aid package for Ukraine: $100 million in humanitarian aid and $300 million in oil products.”
“Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have common challenges and experiences in dealing with them. We are talking about Iranian drones (or drones) that were supplied to some ‘rebels’ and attacked Saudi oil facilities,” Yermak said, referring to the use of Iranian drones by Houthi forces in Yemen. .
“Since last year, the same Iranian drones have been in the possession of Russian terrorists and have been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” he said.