Russia and the US held high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking their first meeting since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. The aim was to normalize relations between Moscow and Washington, and lay groundwork for peace talks in Ukraine. A potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, was discussed during these deliberations.
Yury Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, confirmed Russia’s readiness to work intensively in preparing for such a meeting. However, he dismissed speculations about an imminent encounter, stating that significant preparatory work is required by both sides before any presidential meeting can take place. “That is unlikely,” Ushakov told Russian media, adding, “We are ready [for the work] but at the moment it’s too early to talk about specific dates.”
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz echoed this sentiment, saying no date has been set for a Putin-Trump meeting despite both sides’ intention to make it happen. Last week, following a phone conversation with Putin, Trump hinted at a possible in-person meeting in the near future, suggesting Saudi Arabia as a potential venue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also weighed in on the topic, stating there were no concrete details regarding a planned meeting between the two leaders. He emphasized that such an event would necessitate thorough preparation. Meanwhile, Ushakov addressed earlier reports by Bloomberg, which suggested a Putin-Trump meeting could take place as early as next week. He dismissed these speculations, maintaining that intensive work is required before any such encounter can occur.
The discussions in Riyadh also touched upon the role of other parties in Ukraine peace talks. Ushakov reaffirmed Russia’s stance, stating there is no role for the European Union in these negotiations. This sentiment aligns with earlier statements from Moscow, which has consistently maintained that the EU should not be involved in resolving the conflict.
While both sides are open to the possibility of a Putin-Trump meeting, they acknowledge the need for substantial preparations before any such encounter can take place. The international community awaits further developments on this front as efforts continue towards normalizing relations between Russia and the US, and potentially, peace talks in Ukraine.