Trump, Putin to meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks
In an effort to end the Ukraine war, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Wednesday after a phone call with Putin, Trump confirmed multiple planned meetings, with the first taking place in Saudi Arabia. “We expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there [Russia],” he added.
This marks Trump’s first official conversation with Putin since starting his second term. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On Truth Social, Trump emphasized US support for negotiations, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to a diplomatic team working toward a resolution.
A high-level meeting is scheduled for Friday in Munich, where Vice President J.D. Vance and Rubio will lead the US delegation at the Munich Security Conference, attended by global leaders in defense and foreign affairs.
Trump stated that he and Putin agreed, “We want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia/Ukraine.” He also noted that Zelensky, “like President Putin, wants to make PEACE,” adding that they discussed various aspects of the war.
Challenges and diplomatic shifts
Trump had promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office, but achieving this goal has proven more complex. His discussions with Putin and Zelensky, along with the creation of a negotiation framework, mark his first major diplomatic step.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out potential conditions for ending the war, ruling out a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders when Russia annexed Crimea. He also stated that Ukraine should not become a NATO member and ruled out US troop involvement in any peacekeeping operation.
The choice of Saudi Arabia for the meeting also opens the door to discussions on Gaza. Trump had previously claimed that a ceasefire and hostage release deal would be in place before he took office, but recent developments have threatened its stability. He further complicated the situation by suggesting that the US should take control of Palestinian territories, a controversial stance.
With Ramadan approaching at the end of the month, the timeframe for the Saudi meeting is limited. If it takes place, it will be the first face-to-face discussion between a US and Russian president in nearly four years.
This marks a shift in US diplomacy from former President Joe Biden’s approach. Biden last met Putin in 2021 and later declared that “Putin cannot stay in power,” effectively cutting off diplomatic engagement.
On Truth Social, Trump took a conciliatory tone toward Russia, recalling US-Russian cooperation during World War II. “We each talked about the strengths of our respective nations and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together,” he wrote.
Geopolitical implications
Strengthened Russia-China ties due to Moscow’s isolation after its invasion of Ukraine have been a growing concern for the US. A thaw in US-Russia relations could weaken that alliance.
Another major issue on the table is the renewal of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which limits nuclear warheads and delivery systems. The treaty expires next year, and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov recently cast doubt on the prospects of renewal.
As Trump and Putin prepare to meet, the outcome of their talks could reshape global diplomacy and influence ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
