Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could meet as early as February or March, with two possible locations for talks being Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, reports Do Rzeczy, citing Reuters sources.
Other reports claim nothing has been finalized, and the Kremlin has asked people “to be patient.”
Original reports out of Reuters quoted Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, which were reported by Russian media.
Meanwhile, the RIA Novosti agency has said that preparations for the US-Russian summit are currently at an “advanced stage.”
Trump announced a week ago that he would talk to Putin in the near future and that the two would “do something significant.” However, the president of the United States did not provide any details and did not answer the question of whether he had already spoken to the Russian leader.
Both Trump and Putin maintain friendly relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but neither country would comment on whether they would be playing host. Some Russian diplomats and intelligence officials are concerned about the close military and security ties the two countries have with the United States.
As to an eventual peace plan, points allegedly being tabled by Trump’s team were leaked by Ukrainian portal Strana and reviewed by Portolio.hu. According to these, Zelensky must revoke the decree prohibiting Ukraine from negotiating with Putin. Then, in February or early March, there would be diplomatic coordination between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin to negotiate the main points of a peace treaty.
The date for a final ceasefire is said to be Easter, April 20. Until then, Trump reportedly plans to continue arms shipments to Ukraine. However, Kyiv must then withdraw from the frontlines, as well as from Kursk Oblast. All prisoners of war must be released by both sides.
An international peace conference would take place at the end of April, involving China, European countries, and third-world countries. With a peace treaty in place by early May, Ukraine must abolish martial law and mobilization, followed by presidential elections in August and parliamentary and local elections in October.
The points of Trump’s alleged peace treaty proposal, as cited by Portfolio based on the unconfirmed report out of Strana, are as follows:
– Ukraine cannot join NATO, and it must pledge neutrality.
– Ukraine will become an EU member by 2030, and the Union will participate in the reconstruction of the country.
– Ukraine will not reduce the size of its military, and America will continue to support its modernization.
– Ukraine will not attempt to regain lost regions by military or diplomatic means. This does not require them to recognize the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over them.
– Some Western sanctions against Russia would be lifted immediately, while others would be lifted more slowly, over three years. Instead of sanctions, tariffs would be imposed on certain Russian products.
– Parties that speak Russian and advocate for peaceful coexistence with Russia can run in the Ukrainian elections.
– Measures against the use of the Russian language must be abolished in Ukraine.
– The question of whether there will be European peacekeepers on Ukrainian territory will require further consultation. Kyiv says this is absolutely necessary, but Russia is firmly opposed to it.
General Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s chief negotiator on Ukraine, said on Friday that no plan to end the war has been finalized and that discussions are currently underway only with “European leaders.”
Portfolio notes Strana may have obtained a proposal made during these discussions; it thus may very well be preliminary talking points.
