Thu Feb 13 00:49:40 UTC 2025: ## Trump and Putin to Meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine Peace Talks

**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia** – In a surprising development, US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace negotiations for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The announcement follows a nearly hour-and-a-half phone call between the two leaders, their first confirmed conversation since Trump left office.

Trump described the call as “lengthy and highly productive,” stating that both he and Putin are committed to ending the war and preventing further loss of life. He indicated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will also be involved in the upcoming talks. The Kremlin confirmed the call and stated that Putin invited Trump to Moscow.

The planned meeting has sparked both anticipation and concern. Trump insists that Ukraine will not be sidelined, despite Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s earlier comments suggesting that Ukraine’s pre-2014 border restoration and NATO membership aspirations are unrealistic – positions aligning with Moscow’s demands. Trump has dismissed criticism of Hegseth’s remarks, reiterating that Ukrainian NATO membership is impractical. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his conversation with Putin, reporting that Zelenskyy, like Putin, desires peace.

However, French, German, and Spanish foreign ministers have stressed the necessity of Ukraine’s and its European partners’ involvement in any peace negotiations to ensure a just and lasting resolution. Concerns remain in Kyiv and other European capitals about the potential terms of any agreement, particularly regarding territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

The announcement comes amidst a recent thaw in US-Russia relations, highlighted by a prisoner exchange involving a US teacher and a Russian cryptocurrency kingpin. Trump expressed gratitude to Putin for the release of the American teacher and even noted Putin’s use of his campaign slogan, “Common Sense.”

While Trump has previously expressed admiration for Putin, the prospect of direct negotiations between the two leaders without significant Ukrainian participation has raised significant questions about the potential outcome and the future of the conflict.

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