Arab governments largely silent on Ukraine-Russia conflict

While both Israel and Turkey have publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine - and Iran has blamed Nato but called for an end to hostilities - most Arab states have largely refrained from taking a position on the matter.

So far, Qatar and Libya appear to be the only Arab governments that have expressed any public position.

Qatar’s ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, in which he reportedly "called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute through constructive dialogue and diplomatic methods, as well as the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means, and not to take any actions that would lead to further escalation."

Libya’s foreign minister, Najla Mangoush, also tweeted that her country strongly condemned “what happened in the Republic of Ukraine, from a military attack launched by Russia, which is a violation of international law, and we renew the call for calm and retreat.”

Although the Syrian government has, unsurprisingly, voiced support for its close ally Russia in the Ukraine crisis so far, an organising body representing Syrian opposition officials on Thursday condemned the Russian invasion.

"The Syrian National Coalition condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine and invites the world to stand firm against it," the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces said in a statement.

"As Syrian people, we stand by the friendly Ukrainian people and support their resistance against Russia."