Putin: UAE fit for Trump talks, no plans to meet Zelensky yet
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President Putin said the UAE is a suitable venue for a potential meeting with Donald Trump, while ruling out a meeting with Zelensky under current conditions.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan shake hands during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates is a suitable venue to host a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
His remarks came during talks at the Kremlin with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where the two leaders discussed regional affairs and bilateral cooperation.
Putin's comments align with recent reports that the Kremlin and US officials are working to finalize details for a summit between Putin and Trump, possibly taking place as early as next week.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the UAE is one of the leading candidates to host the event, given its neutral stance and strong diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Washington.
Regarding a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin said he is not opposed in principle, but noted that "certain conditions must first be prepared," adding that "the current situation is far from ready for such a meeting."
Kremlin officials have reiterated that a trilateral summit involving Zelensky is not currently on the table, given the lack of groundwork and trust.
Read more: Trump says Putin meeting likely 'very soon' amid ceasefire push
Russia-UAE Relations
On bilateral relations, Putin said that Russia places great importance on its partnership with the UAE, noting that the two countries "actively cooperate on international platforms, including within the BRICS group and the Eurasian Economic Union."
The UAE has also offered itself as a host for peace talks on Ukraine earlier this year, according to diplomatic sources.
President bin Zayed, for his part, said that trade volume between the two nations has reached $11 billion, expressing hope to double that figure in the coming years.
He reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's long-term commitment to deepening cooperation with Moscow and thanked Russia for its warm hospitality.
US Envoy in Moscow for Pre-Summit Consultations
In a related development, President Putin held what the Kremlin described as "constructive" talks with US Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff in Moscow earlier this week.
The three-hour meeting focused primarily on the conflict in Ukraine and explored terms for a potential ceasefire agreement.
According to US media reports, the Trump administration has pushed for direct engagement with Russia to accelerate negotiations aimed at halting hostilities, with a view to bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the table, though Kiev has not confirmed its participation in any future summit.
As the groundwork for a Trump-Putin summit nears completion, European leaders are watching closely. Ukrainian President Zelensky has recently held consultations with EU allies, urging that any peace framework include Ukraine and respect its sovereignty, amid fears that a bilateral US-Russia deal could marginalize Kiev's interests.
