The United Arab Emirates has informed the United States of its intention to host discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine, indicating a potential peace summit involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, sources familiar with the matter revealed to Reuters.
President Trump has emphasized his commitment to ending the nearly three-year conflict since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He suggested the possibility of meeting with Putin to discuss peace efforts. The UAE has actively positioned itself to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to five anonymous sources.
Sources from the US and UAE disclosed that UAE officials have suggested hosting a "peace summit" to Washington. This summit could potentially facilitate a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy.
A source close to Trump noted that the UAE is a leading contender for the first meeting between Trump and Putin. The official announcement is pending.
In response to inquiries, the White House pointed to Trump's recent comments on the matter. The UAE Foreign Ministry did not immediately provide a comment.
Trump, who assumed office on January 20, engaged separately with Putin and on the conflict. However, his mediation efforts were complicated by comments from his defense secretary reflecting a cautious approach towards Russia during negotiations.
The UAE, a significant oil producer with substantial international investments, holds a strategic position geopolitically. Despite being a key security partner to the US, hosting American troops, the Gulf state also maintains strong ties with Moscow and has bolstered relations with Kyiv since the conflict began.
The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar, has been involved in brokering multiple agreements between Russia and Ukraine following the 2022 invasion by Moscow.
Several nations, including Serbia and Switzerland, have expressed interest in hosting peace talks, with China reportedly pitching itself to host discussions between Trump and Putin, as outlined by the Wall Street Journal.
The UAE has played an increasingly pivotal role in global geopolitics over the past decade, aiming to establish a prominent position internationally.
The UAE gained favor with Trump during his first term by being the first Arab state in years to normalize relations with Israel under a US-brokered deal in 2020, a significant achievement for the Trump administration.
Despite its close relationship with Russia, the UAE has faced criticism from the Biden administration for not isolating Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. The UAE's ties with Russia have coincided with an influx of Russian funds as Western sanctions hit Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.
Despite condemning Russia's invasion, the UAE has signed a free-trade agreement with Ukraine and provided humanitarian assistance.
Emirati officials have emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with diverse international partners to mediate during critical periods.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed willingness to assist in resolving the conflict during a visit to Moscow in October. Earlier, Sheikh Mohamed met with Trump in Florida before the US presidential election.
While the UAE is striving to mediate peace in Ukraine, it faces allegations of fueling conflict in Sudan by reportedly supplying arms to Sudan's RSF paramilitary. The UAE has denied providing military support to any Sudanese groups involved in the conflict. In January, the US identified members of the RSF and allied militias in Sudan.