Two Russian sources claim that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are possible locations for a Trump-Putin meeting.
Two Russian sources familiar with the discussions said that Russia is considering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as potential venues for a meeting between U.S. president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Trump said that he would end the conflict in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and that he was ready to meet Putin. Putin congratulated Trump for his election, and said he was ready to meet Trump in order to discuss Ukraine and Energy.
Russian officials have denied that they had direct contact with the U.S. regarding preparations for an upcoming phone call between Trump, and Putin. This would be followed by a meeting in late 2018.
According to Russian sources who spoke under condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation, senior Russian officials visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE within the last few weeks.
Sources said that there is still some opposition in Russia to this idea, as diplomats and intelligence officials pointed out the close military and safety links between the UAE and the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not responded to requests for comments. The Kremlin refused to comment. Both Trump and Putin, however, have friendly relations with the rulers of Saudi Arabia as well as the UAE.
Trump stated on Sunday that "meetings, talks and meetings" were scheduled between his administration and various parties including Ukraine and Russia. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, said that these contacts had been 'apparently scheduled' when asked about Trump's remarks.
Trump's first call to a foreign leader was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He called the Crown Prince "a fantastic guy", during his video link speech to an audience at World Economic Forum Davos.
Putin visited Saudi Arabia in 2023 and the UAE. He said that Mohammed bin Salman had helped him to organize the largest U.S.-Russian Prisoner Swap since the Cold War.
Since 2015, when Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MbS) visited Russia for his first visit, the two men have developed a strong personal relationship.
PUTIN AND MBS
This relationship helped the two world's largest oil exporters to reach and maintain an OPEC+ deal. Trump asked Saudi Arabia and OPEC for lower oil prices as a possible bargaining chip in the talks.
Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have both maintained neutrality during the Ukraine War and refused to join the West and criticize and sanction Russia.
Both leaders also maintain regular contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who visited Russia multiple times during the conflict, said during his final visit in October 2024 he was willing to support efforts for peace in Ukraine. The UAE has also been successful in facilitating prisoner exchanges.
Both countries are not members of the International Criminal Court which issued an arrest order for Putin. This prevented his visit to several countries including Brazil and South Africa.
The Russian sources have ruled out Turkey as a venue at this stage. This NATO member hosted the failed peace talks in March 2022 between Russia and Ukraine.
Fyodor Lukyanov, influential scientific director of the Valdai Discussion Club whose members meet Putin regularly, has said that Trump and Putin have little choice.
"Almost the whole West is on Ukraine's side." "All the usual venues, such as Helsinki, Geneva and Vienna, where these things used to be held, are no longer suitable", he said, according to TASS, an official news agency.
Lukyanov pointed out that Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while playing a major role, are both very close allies of the United States, which raises questions on the Russian side.
"However, I think it's quite possible as a place for negotiations," he said. Lukyanov refused to comment on this article. (Reporting and editing by the Moscow Bureau, Guy Faulconbridge and William Maclean).
(source: Reuters)
