Russia is considering the possibility of organizing a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, IZ writes, citing Reuters. Both countries are not members of the International Criminal Court, which allows the Russian leader to avoid the risk of arrest under a warrant issued by a court in The Hague. Senior Russian officials have already visited these countries, discussing potential conditions for the meeting, although in Moscow itself there are different views on this initiative.
The meeting with Trump is important for Putin in terms of a possible revision of US policy towards Ukraine and sanctions pressure. Trump has repeatedly stated that he intends to quickly end the war in Ukraine and reconsider the US role in international affairs. In turn, Putin openly expressed his readiness for negotiations and stated that energy and the situation on international markets could be among the key topics.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE maintain stable relations with both countries, but remain neutral on the issue of the war against Ukraine. The leaders of these states are actively in contact with both Moscow and Washington, playing the role of mediators in negotiations and even facilitating prisoner exchanges. In particular, in September last year, Putin personally thanked Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his participation in the process of releasing hostages between the US and Russia.
The situation remains uncertain, as there are concerns in Moscow's diplomatic circles about the influence of the US on its allies in the Persian Gulf. However, for Putin, this meeting may be an attempt to influence the international agenda and secure new agreements that will allow Russia to improve its position in global politics.
We remind you that we previously wrote: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that NATO should prepare for a possible armed conflict.
