Saudi Arabia and the UAE are being considered as potential venues for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reports.

 

Trump has expressed a desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine and is open to meeting Putin, who is also interested in discussions on Ukraine and energy.

 

Although Russian officials have denied direct contact with the US regarding the meeting, senior Russian officials have recently visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

 

However, some opposition remains within Russia due to the strong military ties between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US.

 

Both Trump and Putin have built strong relationships with the leaders of these countries. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed have remained neutral in the Ukraine conflict and maintained diplomatic ties with both Russia and Ukraine.  

 

According to Reuters, Putin’s past visits to the region and the OPEC+ energy deal further solidify these relationships, though Russia remains wary of US influence in the region.

 

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE responded to comment requests. While Turkey, a NATO member, has hosted peace talks before, it is not considered a viable option for this summit.