On February 14, Saudi Arabia expressed its support for a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, following a landmark phone conversation between the two leaders on February 12. The 90-minute call, the first direct interaction between the heads of state since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, has garnered attention for its diplomatic significance, signaling a shift in the geopolitics surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine and global efforts to broker peace.

Saudi Arabia, known for its strategic role in Middle Eastern diplomacy and oil markets, was quick to commend the phone call between Putin and Trump, and it expressed a welcoming stance toward hosting a potential summit between the two leaders. The Saudi government’s statement underscored its ongoing commitment to achieving a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, which has been a central diplomatic focus for the Kingdom since the onset of the Ukrainian crisis.

The announcement of the potential meeting in Saudi Arabia is a significant development in international diplomacy, as the Kingdom has consistently positioned itself as a neutral mediator between opposing global powers. The phone call between Putin and Trump signals a thaw in relations between the US and Russia, which have been strained for over a year due to the conflict in Ukraine. The proposed summit represents a rare opportunity for the two powerful leaders to engage in direct dialogue in a more neutral setting, free from the escalating tensions of Europe and the political complexities surrounding NATO.

The backdrop of this proposed summit, however, is steeped in geopolitical........

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