On 7/8, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a suitable location for a meeting with former US President Donald Trump.

"Many friends are ready to help us organize such an event, including the UAE," Putin said while speaking alongside UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "We will decide later, but I think this is a perfectly suitable location."

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Kremlin in Moscow on 7/8. Photo: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Kremlin in Moscow on 7/8. Photo: AFP

Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov previously confirmed the planned Russia-US summit was expected the following week, but did not specify the location or time.

If successful, the summit would be the first face-to-face meeting between Russian and American leaders since Putin met with Joe Biden in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2021.

Putin's suggestion of the UAE as a venue underscores the country's growing role in mediating global conflicts.

In the Middle East, the UAE is actively involved in resolving the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It primarily focuses on humanitarian aid and uses its diplomatic standing to maintain open communication channels toward a long-term solution, rather than directly mediating negotiations like Qatar or Egypt.

Choosing the UAE as a potential meeting place demonstrates Putin's regard for the country.

UAE President bin Zayed has maintained a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, refraining from joining Western criticism or sanctions against Russia. Instead, the UAE continues to welcome Russian tycoons and businesses. Approximately 4,000 Russian companies are currently investing and operating in the UAE.

Bin Zayed has visited Russia several times in the past three years. During his October 2024 visit, he expressed willingness to support efforts to find a peaceful resolution for Ukraine.

Amid preparations for the US-Russia summit, the UAE President traveled to Moscow to discuss potential areas of cooperation with his Russian counterpart, including oil and gas. This was bin Zayed's second visit to Russia in less than a year, further increasing the likelihood of the UAE hosting the upcoming meeting between the Russian and American leaders.

In April, the UAE brokered a prisoner exchange of over 500 individuals between Russia and Ukraine, receiving thanks from both countries.

Furthermore, the UAE is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023, preventing him from traveling to several countries that are party to the Rome Statute establishing the international organization.

Russian analyst Fyodor Lukyanov, scientific director of the Valdai Discussion Club, whose members regularly meet with Putin, noted that the Russian and American leaders do not have many options for a summit location.

"Almost all Western countries are siding with Ukraine. Therefore, all the traditional venues for such events, like Helsinki, Geneva, or Vienna, are unsuitable," Lukyanov said.

In 2018, the Trump-Putin summit took place in Helsinki, often considered a neutral venue during the Cold War. However, in recent years, Finland joined NATO and has adopted a more confrontational stance toward Russia.

In an interview last year, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen dismissed the possibility of Helsinki hosting a US-Russia summit.

"I would completely rule out the possibility of such discussions taking place in Helsinki without a significant move from Russia showing they want to return to respecting and upholding international law," she said at the time.

Geneva, Switzerland, hosted the most recent meeting between the Russian and American presidents. Although a member of the ICC, Switzerland offered legal immunity from arresting Putin during the peace summit.

However, Trump recently imposed a 39% tariff on goods imported from Switzerland, and analysts suggest Swiss diplomats might view hosting a summit as a way to appease the former US president, potentially compromising their neutrality.

Lukyanov noted that despite not opposing Russia on the Ukraine issue, the UAE remains a close ally of the US, a factor Russian organizers must consider when choosing a venue.

Nevertheless, as a negotiation venue, the UAE "remains a suitable option," Lukyanov said.

Besides the UAE, other possible locations include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.

Trump previously suggested Saudi Arabia as the most likely venue for a meeting with Putin.

"We could meet for the first time in Saudi Arabia," he said in February. "We'll meet in Saudi Arabia and see if we can do something."

Saudi Arabia hosted talks on Ukraine between Russian and American officials this year. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also mediated at various crucial points in the conflict.

Trump (left) and Putin during the summit in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018. Photo: Reuters

Trump (left) and Putin during the summit in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018. Photo: Reuters

Trump's negotiation efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine have been unsuccessful due to stringent conditions from Moscow that Kyiv cannot accept.

Putin maintains his stance on eliminating the "root causes" of the conflict. These are believed to be the goals Russia declared at the start of the 2022 campaign, including the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine, protecting the Russian-speaking community in Donbas, preventing NATO expansion eastward, and ensuring Kyiv's neutrality. Recently, Russia also demanded Ukraine accept the annexation of territories by Moscow.

"Russia is showing goodwill for negotiations, but their core position remains unchanged. They expect Ukraine to retreat and make concessions under pressure on the battlefield or due to Trump's influence," commented Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center based in Berlin, Germany.

According to Stanovaya, Trump and Putin might announce "some progress" after the upcoming summit, but this is unlikely to lead to any significant changes in the war in Ukraine.

Vu Hoang (Reuters, Times, AFP)