Trump and Putin's agenda in KSA: Ukraine, Middle East stability, energy, AI and more

U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that he is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

According to the Kremlin, the two leaders also explored broader geopolitical and economic issues, including efforts to achieve Middle East peace, Iran’s nuclear program, and strengthening U.S.-Russia economic relations.

As diplomatic tensions remain high, the anticipated Trump-Putin meeting in Saudi Arabia could mark a significant turning point in global negotiations, particularly in shaping the future of the Ukraine conflict and international economic policies.

Trump made the statement while speaking to journalists in the Oval Office at the White House. His remarks follow a lengthy phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, during which both leaders agreed to initiate immediate negotiations to halt the ongoing war in Ukraine, as Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

Describing the call as “highly productive”, Trump said the discussion touched on a wide range of critical issues, including the war in Ukraine, Middle East stability, energy markets, artificial intelligence, the strength of the U.S. dollar, and other key economic concerns.

The U.S. president emphasized that he and Putin agreed to work closely together to halt the loss of lives in the Russia-Ukraine war. He also revealed plans for reciprocal visits between the U.S. and Russia as part of future diplomatic efforts.

“We have agreed that our teams will begin negotiations immediately,” Trump stated. “We will also reach out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him of our discussion—something I intend to do right away.”

To spearhead the negotiations, Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The president expressed confidence that these diplomatic efforts “will lead to a successful resolution.”