By Capital Watch Media
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for discussions aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This follows a surprise phone conversation between the two leaders, marking their first confirmed contact since Trump’s return to the White House.
Trump described the call as “lengthy and highly productive,” stating that he and Putin agreed on the need for direct negotiations.
The Kremlin confirmed that the conversation lasted nearly one and a half hours, adding that both leaders recognised the time had come to work together.
However, concerns have emerged over Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks, especially after Trump dismissed Kyiv’s NATO aspirations as impractical. Moscow has long demanded that Ukraine abandon its bid to join the military alliance as a condition for peace.
Despite criticisms, Trump insisted that Ukraine was not being sidelined in negotiations.
“We expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there, and we’re going to meet probably in Saudi Arabia the first time,” Trump said. He added that he expected the meeting to take place soon.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also expected to play a key role in the discussions.
The crown prince was instrumental in a recent Russia-US prisoner exchange and has positioned himself as a mediator in global conflicts.
The announcement comes as Trump faces mounting pressure to fulfil his campaign promise to end the Ukraine war swiftly.
Before assuming office on January 20, he pledged to resolve the conflict within 24 hours.
The White House has not disclosed whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be involved in any capacity.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has reiterated that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russia’s position remains firm, with the Kremlin stating that any agreement must address its security concerns, particularly regarding NATO expansion.
Putin has repeatedly framed the war as a defensive measure against Western influence near Russia’s borders.
International reactions to the planned meeting have been mixed, with NATO allies expressing caution.
European leaders have stressed the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s interests are represented in any settlement.
While the details of the upcoming talks remain unclear, Trump’s announcement signals a possible shift in diplomatic efforts to end the nearly three-year-long war.
