The Kremlin has denied reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit Saudi Arabia, where former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected in the coming weeks, dismissing speculation of a potential meeting between the two leaders.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, speaking during a daily briefing, stated that Putin has no scheduled visit to the Gulf nation. “These are purely the plans of the U.S. head of state, in no way related to Putin,” Peskov said. “Putin, so far, has no plans like that,” he added, emphasizing that there is no confirmed date or venue for a possible meeting between the two leaders.
Trump, who has held two phone calls with Putin since February, announced on Monday that he could visit Saudi Arabia as early as next month. While the two leaders have not met in person, their officials have engaged in discussions in Riyadh.
Trump is advocating for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, though his recent remarks have been critical of both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with little diplomatic progress made.
Last month, the U.S. facilitated separate discussions with Kyiv and Moscow in Saudi Arabia, leading to an agreement to suspend strikes on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea. However, tensions remain high, with both Russia and Ukraine subsequently accusing each other of deliberate attacks on critical infrastructure.
