‘Crises must be solved at negotiating table and not on battlefield’ – Qatar

Qatar advocates for peaceful solutions to global conflicts, including the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari has told RT. According to the diplomat, Doha backs efforts to end the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and is ready to contribute further.

Al-Ansari spoke to RT ahead of a visit to Russia by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who arrived in Moscow on Thursday.

“Qatar has always advocated for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts. This stance… reflects Qatar’s belief that all crises should be resolved at the negotiation table, not on the battlefield,” Al-Ansari said in an interview aired on Wednesday.

He praised Gulf states’ diplomatic initiatives, including recent Ukraine-related talks hosted by Saudi Arabia.

“These efforts undertaken by the Gulf states… demonstrate that our region strives to become a center for peaceful resolution rather than a battleground for wars and conflicts,” he said. “We hope to see positive outcomes from these efforts for both our region and the entire world.”

Al-Ansari said Qatar is “ready to act as a mediator” and help facilitate dialogue between all sides of the Ukraine conflict. He noted Doha’s past role in reuniting children evacuated from the combat zone with their families and contributing to the now-defunct Black Sea grain deal, which enabled food exports via the freight route early in the conflict. Qatar, he added, wants to play an even “more active role” in resolving the crisis.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Ukraine conflict and related peace efforts are on the agenda for the meeting between Al Thani and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as bilateral ties and Middle East affairs.

“Qatar plays an important role in attempts to resolve many crises,” Peskov said, adding that Moscow “highly appreciates a trusting dialogue” with Doha on international issues. He said Putin and Al Thani are also expected to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and industry.

“We have good prospects for expanding mutually beneficial trade cooperation,” Peskov stated. “We hope to launch major joint logistics projects soon and broaden cooperation in the transport sector overall.”