The fourth Saudi relief plane, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, arrived at Zossof Airport in Poland, near the Ukrainian border, on Thursday, in preparation for its entry through the Polish border into Ukraine. This is part of the Kingdom’s assistance to the Ukrainian people. The fourth and fifth relief planes left King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday morning, carrying more than 140 tons of relief materials, including electrical generators, electrical appliances, and infant milk formula.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Anatoly Petrenko, on behalf of the Ukrainian people and government, expressed in a statement to “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” their deep appreciation for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and all Saudi citizens for the humanitarian assistance provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
Anatoly continued that this package of assistance is a strong proof of the permanent partnership between the two countries and the continuous and firm Saudi support for Ukraine in accordance with international law, and it confirms the Arab humanity and generosity.
The Ukrainian ambassador emphasized the urgent need to send these aids to the displaced civilians who are suffering from the consequences of “the ongoing Russian military aggression,” as he described. He added, “We pray to God that the kindness and warmth of the Saudi people return to every Saudi family a hundredfold, and that they are blessed with more righteous deeds for the sake of peace and prosperity.” The package of assistance provided by Saudi Arabia to Ukraine comes within its historic role of standing with those in need and affected around the world in various crises and hardships.
It is worth mentioning that last year Saudi Arabia signed an agreement and a memorandum of understanding to provide an additional humanitarian aid package to Ukraine worth $400 million. It had also previously provided urgent medical and shelter assistance worth $10 million to refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries, especially Poland, in coordination with the Polish government and United Nations organizations.
The recent war in Ukraine against Russia has its roots in the complex history and geopolitical dynamics of the region. Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has navigated a challenging path, striving to assert its sovereignty while seeking closer ties with Western institutions like the EU and NATO. This pursuit has been contentious, given the country’s deep internal divisions and its strategic importance to Russia.
The conflict escalated significantly in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in the Donbas region, leading to a bloody conflict that has been the deadliest in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. These actions marked a significant shift in global security dynamics and were met with international condemnation.
