MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold a meeting with a delegation of the Arab League Contact Group on Ukraine. The delegation will comprise the Arab League secretary general and the foreign ministers of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Sudan. The organization is ready to facilitate efforts to find a political settlement between Russia and Ukraine, which is the reason for its visit to Moscow, Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki said.

Several days after the launch of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Egypt initiated a meeting of permanent representatives to the Arab League in order to agree a position on the conflict. Since the Arab League maintains friendly relations with both Moscow and Kiev, it refrained from condemning either of the parties.

The Arab League is concerned about the Ukrainian crisis particularly because of the global economic problems and the food security issues that it is causing. In particular, Arab League countries traditionally purchase food products, including grain, from Russia and Ukraine. Global grain prices have risen by 22-37% since early February.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit pointed out that Arab countries needed to be guided by their national interests in terms of the Ukrainian crisis. At the same time, Arab League officials and member states maintain contact with both Russia and Ukraine.