Saudi Arabia, UAE Considered as Possible Venues for Trump-Putin Summit
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are being considered as potential venues for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to two Russian sources familiar with the discussions, Reuters reported.
Trump has reiterated his commitment to ending the war in Ukraine as swiftly as possible and has expressed his willingness to engage in direct talks with Putin. Meanwhile, the Russian president has congratulated Trump on his election victory and signaled his readiness to discuss key issues, including Ukraine and energy matters.
Although Russian officials have denied direct contact with the U.S. regarding a preliminary phone call between Trump and Putin—expected to take place before any official summit—sources suggest that senior Russian officials have recently visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These visits indicate ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at arranging a high-level meeting between the two leaders.
On Sunday, Trump confirmed that his administration had scheduled “meetings and talks with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about these statements, acknowledged that such discussions were “apparently planned.”
Notably, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first foreign leader Trump contacted upon taking office. The U.S. president has previously praised the Crown Prince, describing him as “a fantastic guy” during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Putin, who visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2023, has also expressed appreciation for the Gulf nations' diplomatic efforts. Their role in facilitating the largest U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange since the Cold War underscores their growing influence in global diplomacy.
If finalized, the potential Trump-Putin summit in the Gulf could mark a significant moment in U.S.-Russia relations and efforts to resolve ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Related Posts