Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to hold his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, as part of efforts to broker peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump stated, “We will meet in Saudi Arabia… Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be part of my meeting with Putin.”
He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is an ideal location for hosting these negotiations, highlighting the kingdom’s role as a neutral mediator in international conflicts.
Trump’s remarks came just hours after a phone call with Putin, during which both leaders agreed to initiate immediate peace talks regarding Ukraine.
A Push for Ceasefire and Political Stability in Ukraine
Trump expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire in Ukraine in the near future, stating that the war-torn nation would eventually require new elections as part of its stabilization process.
When asked about Ukraine’s NATO membership, Trump dismissed the idea as “not practical”, calling it a major point of contention in the ongoing conflict between Kyiv and Moscow.
The former president’s comments were made during an informal exchange with journalists, where he disclosed details of his latest calls with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said that both leaders showed interest in ending hostilities and that immediate peace negotiations would commence.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump revealed that Russia and the U.S. had agreed to start talks “immediately” and described his phone conversation with Putin as “long and highly productive.”
“We agreed that we want to stop the unnecessary loss of millions of lives in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Trump said, using an unverified casualty estimate.
Trump also praised Putin, stating that the Russian leader had even adopted his campaign slogan, “Common Sense.”
Putin Signals Willingness for Long-Term Peace Talks
The Kremlin confirmed the phone conversation, with Putin expressing his desire to reach a “long-term solution” to the Ukraine conflict through diplomatic negotiations. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the two leaders spoke for over 90 minutes, discussing the root causes of the war and potential solutions.
Peskov stated, “President Putin emphasized the need to address the fundamental reasons behind the conflict, agreeing with President Trump that a long-term resolution can only be achieved through peace negotiations.”
Both leaders also agreed to exchange visits to each other’s countries at a future date, Trump claimed.
Following his conversation with Putin, Trump immediately contacted Zelensky to update him on the discussion.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I just spoke with President Zelensky. It was a great conversation. Like President Putin, he wants peace.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky confirmed the discussion, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the two had spoken extensively about possible pathways to peace. He also noted that Trump shared details of his discussion with Putin.
Concerns from European Leaders
While Trump has not yet disclosed his full peace plan, he has promised to end the war swiftly, including pressuring Kyiv to negotiate despite receiving billions in U.S. military aid under President Joe Biden.
The announcement of U.S.-Russia talks comes a day after Russia released American citizen Mark Fogel, who had been serving a 14-year sentence for drug-related charges. In exchange, the U.S. released Russian cybersecurity expert Alexander Vinnik, accused of operating illicit cryptocurrency schemes.
The White House expressed hope that this prisoner exchange could serve as a foundation for broader negotiations between the two countries.
However, Trump’s approach has raised concerns among European leaders, who fear that Ukraine could be pressured into a peace deal that favors Russia.
At a meeting in Paris, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Spain jointly declared that any resolution on Ukraine must involve Kyiv and European allies.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated, “There will be no just and lasting peace in Ukraine without European involvement.”
His German and Spanish counterparts echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that Ukraine must have a say in any future negotiations.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands have been killed or injured since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Meanwhile, the U.S. confirmed that three individuals, including an American citizen, had been released from Belarusian custody and handed over to American authorities.
With Trump positioning himself as a potential mediator, the world watches to see whether Saudi Arabia’s role as a host for peace talks will help bring an end to one of the deadliest conflicts in recent history.