Russia Prepares for Trump-Putin Summit Amid Ukraine Conflict

Preparations for a potential summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are underway, signaling a shift away from the Western isolation of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that the meeting could cover various global issues, though efforts to organize it are still in preliminary stages and will require intensive preparation. U.S. and Russian envoys are expected to meet soon to facilitate further discussions among senior officials. This follows a recent high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia, where both sides agreed to work towards ending the Ukraine conflict and improving diplomatic and economic relations, marking a notable change in U.S. foreign policy under Trump. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined three main goals from the discussions: restoring embassy staffing, forming a high-level team for Ukraine peace talks, and exploring enhanced relations and cooperation. Notably, no Ukrainian officials attended the Saudi meeting, highlighting their exclusion from these diplomatic efforts.