Putin names possible venue for talks with Trump
The United Arab Emirates is among the potential locations for the meeting, the Russian president has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the United Arab Emirates could be a “suitable” location for a meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.
An in-person meeting between the two presidents could take place as early as next week, according to the Kremlin.
Putin made the remarks to journalists on Thursday, following his talks in Moscow with UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Asked about the location for a summit with Trump, Putin said Russia has “many friends” who are ready to help, and pointed to the UAE as an option. “One of our friends is the president of the United Arab Emirates. I think we will decide, but this would be one of the quite suitable places,” he said.
According to Western media reports, aides to the US president began preparing for a possible summit immediately after Witkoff’s visit to Moscow.
Commenting on who initiated plans for the summit, Putin said interest had been shown “on both sides,” adding: “Who said what word first is no longer important.”
Expectations for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump grew after a visit to Moscow by US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, which the White House described as highly productive. Witkoff reportedly floated the idea of a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, although Moscow has so far declined to comment.
Asked directly whether he was open to meeting Zelensky, Putin replied: “In general, I have nothing against it. It’s possible. But certain conditions must be met.”
Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the Ukrainian leader’s legal authority to enter into binding agreements. Zelensky’s presidential term expired in 2024, but he did not call new elections, citing martial law. Moscow has since labeled him “illegitimate” and insisted that legal authority in Ukraine lies with the parliament.
