The move follows a 90-minute phone talk between the US and Russian leaders on Wednesday
Saudi Arabia said on Friday it commended the phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump and it welcomed the idea of them meeting in the Kingdom.
Putin and Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes by phone on Wednesday. The call marks the first known direct interaction between the US and Russian heads of state since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Hours after the phone call on Wednesday, Trump told journalists at the White House that the talks would take place in Saudi Arabia.
“The Kingdom welcomes holding the summit in its territory and affirms its continued efforts to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, which began since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis,” the statement read. Riyadh added it has continued these efforts over the past three years.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly talked with Zelensky and Putin, suggesting assistance in peace talks to both Moscow and Kiev. In December 2023 the Crown Prince visited Russia, where he held talks with Putin. Ukraine conflict, as well as oil prices, OPEC+, and the Gaza conflict, were on the agenda of the trip.
The American president also announced on Thursday that American and Russian officials would meet on the sidelines of the event in Munich on Friday, with Ukraine also invited to participate. However, no such meeting was announced by the Conference or media outlets.
READ MORE: Ukraine conflict and NATO challenges: Munich Security Conference: As it happened
US and Ukrainian delegations met on the sidelines of the conference, with Zelensky concluding he is ready to move as quickly as possible toward real and guaranteed peace. He also said he would meet with only one Russian, Putin, but only when he has a joint plan with the US president and Europe.
US Vice President J.D. Vance also insisted on the start of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “It’s important for us to get together and start to have the conversations that are going to be necessary to bring this thing to a close,” he said.
