The visit came within the framework of a ministerial level tour to meet with parties involved in the conflict and followed a meeting in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In a press conference following the meeting, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri stressed the “need for peaceful solutions to the Ukraine crisis” and underlined the readiness of the Arab group to mediate in support of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

“We called on all parties to the conflict to halt any escalation and stressed the need for peaceful solutions based on dialogue,” he said.

Speaking during the same press conference, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Abul-Gheit highlighted the serious economic impact of the crisis on the Arab countries.

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has disrupted supply chains of wheat from Black Sea ports to the Middle East and North Africa, and sent prices on international markets soaring.

The liaison group includes representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Sudan, and the UAE, and was formed last month on the recommendation of the 157th session of the Council of the Arab League.

On Saturday, Shoukri discussed the Russia-Ukraine crisis in phone calls with his French and German counterparts, and briefed them on Egypt’s steps to contain the domestic impact of the war.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 7 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.