Sources in Russia say that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) might host a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and is open to meeting Putin. Putin congratulated Trump when he won the election and is ready to talk about Ukraine and energy.
Although Russian officials say there have been no direct talks about a phone call or meeting, senior Russian diplomats have recently visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Some Russian officials are unsure about the idea of meeting in these countries because they have strong ties with the U.S.
Both Trump and Putin have formed friendly relationships with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Trump recently mentioned that his administration has talks scheduled with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it looks like those talks will happen.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was one of the first leaders Trump spoke with after taking office, and Trump praised him as a “fantastic guy.” Putin has also expressed gratitude to Mohammed bin Salman, especially for helping organize a big prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia.
The leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been neutral during the Ukraine war, avoiding criticism and sanctions against Russia. They also stay in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and have tried to help find peace in Ukraine.
While Turkey was once considered a meeting place, Russian sources now believe it’s not an option because it’s a NATO member. Analyst Fyodor Lukyanov says Trump and Putin have limited choices for where to meet, as most Western countries support Ukraine. Even though Saudi Arabia and the UAE are close U.S. allies, they could still work as meeting places for negotiations.
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