Israel Downplays Normalization Talks - Riyadh To Host UKR Peace Talks

Comments from Israel's National Security Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, hitting wires stating that, "Israel not involved at this stage in US-led Saudi normalization talks," adding there is, "still a long way to go until Saudi normalization deal."

• Hanegbi's comments come after speculation that a recent Saudi trip by White House National Security Jake Sullivan could kickstart talks between Israel and Riyadh.
• The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Saudi Arabia will host peace talks early next month between western countries, Ukraine, and developing nations - including India and Brazil.
• According to the WSJ, "the meeting would bring senior officials from up to 30 countries to Jeddah on Aug. 5 and 6," amid "a growing battle between the Kremlin and Ukraine’s Western backers to win support from major developing countries."
• The Journal reports that Sullivan, who has been central to recent exploratory talks between neutral countries and Ukraine, including a meeting in Copenhagen in June, is expected to attend the Riyadh meeting virtually.
• The Kremlin responded to the WSJ report, "We need to understand what the aims are," adding that, "there are no grounds now for peace talks."