UAE, Saudi Arabia 'possible venues' for Trump-Putin summit

UAE and Saudi Arabia Considered as Possible Venues for Trump-Putin Summit

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are being considered by Russia as potential locations for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters sources familiar with the discussions.

Potential Summit & Diplomatic Considerations

• Trump has expressed his intent to end the Ukraine war and is open to meeting Putin, who has also signaled readiness for talks on Ukraine and energy.
• While no official US-Russia discussions have been confirmed, high-level Russian officials have recently visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE, suggesting diplomatic groundwork.
• Some Russian diplomats and intelligence officials have voiced concerns about holding talks in these nations due to their close security ties with the US.

Trump, Putin & Gulf Relations

• Trump and Putin have strong ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MbS) and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• Saudi Arabia and the UAE have remained neutral in the Ukraine conflict, refraining from sanctions on Russia while maintaining communication with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
• Putin and MbS share a strategic relationship, strengthening OPEC+ agreements and past US-Russian prisoner exchanges.

Summit Location Challenges

• Traditional diplomatic venues like Helsinki, Geneva, and Vienna are unsuitable due to their alignment with Ukraine and the West.
• Turkey has been ruled out due to its NATO membership and previous failed peace talks in 2022.
• Analyst Fyodor Lukyanov suggests that while Saudi Arabia and the UAE are viable venues, their close US ties raise concerns for Russia.

At this stage, no official confirmations have been made regarding the summit’s timing or location. However, if hosted in the Gulf region, it would underscore the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global diplomacy.