US President Donald Trump is pushing forward with his plan to end the war in Ukraine, relying on an old ally – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two have cultivated a close relationship, and Prince bin Salman’s involvement in mediating a peace agreement could deepen their ties.
Trump views Saudi Arabia as a key collaborator in brokering a resolution to the conflict. If preliminary talks with Russian officials are successful, a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is possible, potentially leading to a summit in Saudi Arabia within the next month.
Saudi Arabia’s neutral stance on the conflict makes it an attractive location for the summit. Unlike European nations that have condemned Russia’s actions, Saudi Arabia has not criticized Moscow or joined Western sanctions.
The crown prince has expressed eagerness to work with Trump and has a track record of brokering peace agreements, including a prisoner swap in August last year. Their relationship is built on shared autocratic traits, including a strong crackdown on dissent.
However, the plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza Strip and take control of the land for development poses a challenge to Prince bin Salman’s involvement. Saudi Arabia has criticized the proposal, and Trump’s ties with the kingdom are heavily influenced by investments from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/17/politics/trump-saudi-arabia-ukraine/index.html