Russia is considering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as possible venues for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Both countries are not members of the International Criminal Court, eliminating the risk of the court's arrest warrant for Putin being executed.
This was reported by URA-Inform, citing Reuters.
Trump, expressing his readiness to meet with Putin, stressed that he is seeking a speedy end to the war in Ukraine. The Russian president, in turn, confirmed that he is open to talks, including on energy and the Ukrainian crisis.
According to sources, the Russian side has not yet initiated direct contacts with the United States to prepare for a telephone conversation between the leaders, which could be a step towards future negotiations. However, high-ranking Russian officials have already visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE to discuss potential logistics.
But there is resistance within Russia to the choice of these countries. Some diplomats and intelligence officials believe their close ties to the United States, including military and security ties, make them less suitable.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has played a key role in maintaining relations with both sides. Trump has previously called him a “fantastic guy” and noted his role in international affairs. Putin also expressed gratitude to the prince for helping to organize the largest exchange of hostages between Russia and the United States.
The UAE, in turn, is demonstrating its readiness to act as a neutral mediator on the world stage, which makes it an attractive venue for negotiations.
The upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump could be an important step toward international dialogue, but the final decision on the venue for the negotiations remains open.
We would like to remind you that Trump faced an ultimatum from the EU: the West is on the brink of a trade war.