Trump, Putin Expect to Meet in Saudi Arabia After Phone Call

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin plan to meet in the future, likely in Saudi Arabia, Trump said on Wednesday following a phone conversation with the Russian leader. MAIN:

U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin expect to hold a meeting soon, with Saudi Arabia being the most likely location. The announcement came after the two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday.

Trump described the call as a "good conversation" and said it lasted over an hour. He did not specify when the meeting might take place but confirmed that both sides were open to the idea.

During the call, Trump also reiterated his stance on Ukraine, saying he did not think it was practical for Kyiv to join NATO. His comments align with recent statements from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine as part of a potential settlement with Russia.

Background on U.S.-Russia Talks

This was the second confirmed phone call between Trump and Putin in recent weeks. In their previous conversation, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, the two leaders discussed Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and a potential prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin had also invited Trump to visit Moscow, with both leaders agreeing to continue personal contacts. Trump later followed up with a call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him about his discussion with Putin.

The planned meeting between Trump and Putin would mark their first face-to-face talks since Trump’s return to office.

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