Top US, Russian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia for potential Trump-Putin summit

Senior officials from the United States and Russia are set to meet next week in Saudi Arabia to prepare for a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the aim of discussing ways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to sources familiar with the plans, the summit could take place as soon as the end of February, prior to the start of the holy month of Ramadan in March, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Details regarding the specific attendees and the structure of the meeting are still being finalized, but it is expected that national security advisers from both countries will lead the discussions. The timing of the summit remains a key consideration, with the aim of locking in a date ahead of Ramadan.

Notably, European officials have not yet been informed of the meeting, and there is little indication that Ukraine is fully included in the planning process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, underscored his nation's concerns: “Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement,” he stated. “And the same rule should apply to all of Europe.”

Zelenskyy’s office has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the Saudi meeting. Meanwhile, President Trump confirmed on February 13 that a summit with Putin in Saudi Arabia was indeed being arranged, assuring that Ukrainian representatives would also be part of the talks. This followed a 90-minute phone call between Trump and Putin, which marked their first direct communication since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While the White House National Security Council has not provided comment, nor has a Kremlin spokesperson, Saudi authorities have extended invitations to representatives from the US, Russia, and Ukraine for the meeting in Riyadh. Saudi National Security Adviser Musaed Al-Aiban will chair the discussions. Al-Aiban, a trusted aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has a history of representing the Saudi leadership in critical negotiations, including talks with Iran and the US regarding defense cooperation and potential normalization of ties with Israel.

The negotiating teams are expected to feature high-level US and Russian officials. US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff are anticipated to take the lead on behalf of the United States. The involvement of Keith Kellogg, a special representative, remains to be clarified.

Putin’s team is similarly composed of seasoned diplomats and strategists, including Yuri Ushakov, his chief foreign-policy adviser with extensive diplomatic experience, and Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service.

Kirill Dmitriev, a financier with close links to Putin’s inner circle, is also expected to play a critical role, possibly serving as an unofficial intermediary in the negotiations with Trump’s team.

The intensity of diplomatic contacts has risen significantly in recent days, especially following US Vice President JD Vance’s provocative speech at the Munich Security Conference. Vance’s comments, which sharply criticized European values and their approach to global security, left many European delegates stunned.

Saudi Arabia's longstanding relationships with the US, Russia, and Ukraine make it a key neutral party in these discussions. The kingdom's role as a mediator has garnered attention as a potential platform for peace talks. However, final details regarding the meeting remain subject to last-minute changes.

By Vafa Guliyeva