Moscow is considering Saudi Arabia and the UAE as venues for talks between President Putin and President Trump to address the war in Ukraine. Despite their ties with the U.S., these countries remain key options for the summit as Russia rules out Turkey due to prior diplomatic failures. The Moscow Times highlights the increasing risks faced by independent media in Russia.
Moscow is currently assessing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as potential locations for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a report by Reuters based on unnamed sources. Both leaders have expressed interest in convening to discuss strategies for concluding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a situation Trump previously claimed he could resolve promptly. Recent visits by senior Russian officials to both nations suggest diplomatic engagement, though certain Russian diplomats oppose this choice, citing the close relations these countries maintain with U.S. military and intelligence agencies.
On Sunday, Trump revealed that discussions with Russian officials regarding the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine were already underway. The Kremlin confirmed that discussions were indeed “apparently planned.” Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE have refrained from participating in Western sanctions or denouncing Russia’s military actions, their leadership continues to uphold diplomatic relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Significantly, both nations are not signatories to the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for President Putin in 2023 due to alleged war crimes.
Russia has definitively dismissed Turkey, a NATO member, as a viable location for this summit after Turkey’s involvement in the unsuccessful peace talks held in Istanbul in March 2022. The ongoing geopolitical landscape illustrates the complexity of arranging such high-level discussions amidst current tensions and international scrutiny.
In light of these developments, The Moscow Times has issued a plea to its readership concerning the precarious state of journalism in Russia. The organization has been labelled as an “undesirable” entity by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, leading to dire consequences for its staff and operations. The Moscow Times encourages continued support for independent journalism amidst increasing governmental repression.
The article highlights the ongoing diplomatic considerations surrounding a potential summit between Russia and the United States, focusing on the roles Saudi Arabia and the UAE may play as neutral grounds. The significance of the Ukrainian conflict remains central, with both leaders indicating willingness to convene to address it. The broader implications of international relations and the challenges faced by independent media in Russia further enhance the context of this discussion.
In summary, Moscow is weighing Saudi Arabia and UAE for a potential Putin-Trump summit amidst discussions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The choice of venue raises concerns among Russian officials due to the close ties these nations have with the U.S. The atmosphere surrounding independent journalism in Russia is also critical, reflecting severe political pressures.
Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com
