Washington : US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he expects to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace in Ukraine.
The two leaders held a phone conversation that lasted approximately an hour and a half, signaling a significant shift in US-Russia relations.
According to the Kremlin, the discussions were constructive and covered key aspects of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump said, "We expect that he (Putin) will come here, or I will go there. We may meet in Saudi Arabia first." He added that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would also be present at the meeting. The Crown Prince played a crucial role in a recent US-Russia prisoner exchange.
While Trump did not specify an exact date for the meeting, he stated that it would take place "soon." Both leaders agreed that "now is the time to work together."
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump revealed that he and Putin had agreed to immediately begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He further stated that he would contact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to brief him on the conversation.
"I will reach out to President Zelensky right away to inform him about this discussion," Trump wrote.
Following his conversation with Putin, Trump also spoke with Zelensky, who reportedly expressed a willingness to engage in peace talks. Zelensky described his discussion with Trump as "meaningful," and shared details of Ukraine's negotiation strategy.
Trump has previously stated that he would end the Ukraine war within "24 hours" of taking office. Since his inauguration on January 20, he has expressed a strong commitment to achieving a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, leading to a prolonged war in which the United States and its Western allies have provided billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The anticipated meeting between Trump, Putin, and Mohammed bin Salman could mark a turning point in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. However, details on the negotiations and potential peace terms remain uncertain.
