by Our Correspondent in Doha
Top officials from the United States and Russia are set to gather in Saudi Arabia next week to lay the groundwork for a high-profile summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The potential meeting, expected to take place before the start of Ramadan in March, has drawn global attention as discussions between both nations intensify.
A working group comprising national security advisers is expected to convene to iron out the details ahead of the anticipated summit. The move follows a recent phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, initiated by Washington, which aimed at addressing ongoing diplomatic and geopolitical issues.
During their discussion, Lavrov and Rubio agreed to keep open communication channels to resolve tensions in Russian-American relations. Among the key topics were the easing of restrictions on diplomatic missions, trade barriers inherited from the previous U.S. administration, and cooperation on international crises, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and Palestine. Both sides also committed to arranging an expert meeting soon to remove obstacles hindering bilateral diplomatic operations.
The anticipated Trump-Putin meeting comes amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine. Trump’s recent remarks, which downplayed Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects and suggested a compromise on territorial disputes, have raised concerns among U.S. allies. His new Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, echoed similar sentiments, calling it “unrealistic” to expect Ukraine to reclaim all its pre-2014 borders. These statements have sparked mixed reactions from Western leaders and Ukrainian soldiers, some of whom expressed frustration over the timing of negotiations after years of conflict.
Meanwhile, British officials were reportedly forewarned of a major announcement from Trump, adding to speculation over potential policy shifts. Defence Secretary John Healey was informed by U.S. officials ahead of Trump’s scheduled address, prompting heightened anticipation within NATO headquarters. In contrast, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock insisted that Europe must play a central role in any resolution concerning Ukraine, underscoring the continent’s vested interest in ensuring lasting stability.
The looming meeting in Saudi Arabia is set against the backdrop of intensified international discussions on security and defence. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to increasing defence spending and emphasised Ukraine’s “irreversible pathway” towards NATO membership. Meanwhile, Romanian political tensions flared following U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s remarks challenging a court decision that annulled a controversial election victory by a hard-right candidate with pro-Russian ties.
As global leaders brace for the Trump-Putin summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed calls for a united European military strategy against Russian aggression. With key stakeholders positioning themselves on all sides of the negotiations, the world watches closely to see what implications the Saudi Arabia meeting will have for U.S.-Russia relations and the broader geopolitical order.
