Putin seeks meeting with Trump in one of two Arab countries - Reuters

Neither country is a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin, preventing him from traveling to several countries, including Brazil and South Africa.

According to the media source, Trump has stated that he will end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible and expressed his readiness to meet with Putin. In his turn, the Russian leader congratulated Trump on his election and said he was prepared to meet with him to discuss Ukraine and energy.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied any direct contacts with the US regarding preparations for a phone conversation between Trump and Putin, which would precede a possible meeting later this year.

However, according to Russian sources speaking on condition of anonymity, high-ranking Russian officials have visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recent weeks.

One source noted that some resistance to the idea still exists in Russia, as some diplomats and intelligence officials point to the close military and security ties that the Kingdom and the UAE maintain with the United States.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first foreign head of state Trump called after taking office. Trump described the crown prince as a "fantastic guy" during his video address to an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Putin, who visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2023, stated last September that he was grateful to Mohammed bin Salman for assisting in organizing the largest prisoner exchange between the US and Russia since the Cold War.

Putin and Mohammed bin Salman

Putin and Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, have maintained close personal ties since 2015 when the prince first visited Russia.

These relations helped the leaders of the world's two largest oil exporters reach and maintain the OPEC+ energy agreement. Trump has urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC to reduce oil prices, which could serve as a potential bargaining chip for Russia in negotiations.

Both Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have maintained a neutral stance throughout the war in Ukraine, refraining from joining the West in its criticism and sanctions against Russia.

Both leaders also maintain regular contacts with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Russia several times during the war, stating during his latest visit in October 2024 that he was ready to support peace efforts. The UAE has also successfully mediated prisoner exchanges.

At this stage, Russian sources have ruled out Türkiye, a NATO member where unsuccessful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in March 2022, as a potential venue.