Written by (Mohamed Al-Baba)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United Arab Emirates on a visit with a “large humanitarian program”, ahead of an expected meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
“Official visit with the first lady to the United Arab Emirates,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
“The priority is to bring more of our people home from captivity. In addition to investment and economic partnership. In addition to a large humanitarian program,” he added.
Zelensky had previously said he planned to visit the Emirates, as well as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in the coming days. But on Friday he said he had no plans to meet Russian or American officials there.
Trump to meet Putin ‘very soon’
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he could meet “very soon” with Vladimir Putin, adding that he believes his Russian counterpart really wants to stop the fighting in Ukraine.
“No time has been set, but it could be very soon,” Trump told reporters hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to temper expectations about upcoming high-level talks in Riyadh to end the war.
As Rubio arrived with a high-level US delegation in talks with Russian officials in the Saudi capital on Tuesday, a flurry of diplomacy was underway as Ukraine’s brutal war nears its third anniversary.
Trump, speaking to reporters after a flight on Air Force One, said his team had been talking “long and hard” with Russian officials, including his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who the president said met with Putin for about three hours recently.
“I think he wants to stop the fighting,” Trump said of Putin.
When asked if he thought Putin wanted to take over all of Ukraine, Trump said: “That was my question to him.”
“If he were to continue … that would be a big problem for me,” Trump added.
“I think he wants to get it over with, and they want it over with quickly. Both,” he said, adding that “Zelensky wants to get it over with, too.”
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he believed Russia was preparing to “go to war” against a weakened NATO if Trump were to ease U.S. support for the alliance.
Trump appeared to dismiss Zelensky’s comments, telling reporters he was “not the least bit concerned” about the Ukrainian leader’s message.
As Moscow and Washington prepare for a summit between their leaders, Europe and Kyiv are concerned that they are trying to resolve the three-year war in Ukraine without them.
The UAE has played an important mediating role between Russia and Ukraine, helping with prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia throughout the war.
Ukrainian peace efforts
Ukrainian peace efforts are a complex and painful subject, involving many political, military and diplomatic dimensions. Since the start of the war in 2014, and especially after the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has been seeking diplomatic solutions to end hostilities and ensure stability in the region.
Ukraine has consistently sought to negotiate a ceasefire or peace agreement, though these negotiations have been difficult due to Russia’s sometimes intransigence and rejection of some of Ukraine’s terms.
There are ongoing attempts to involve the international community in these negotiations, such as the United Nations, European countries and the United States, to mediate peaceful solutions.
The call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to pressure Saudi Arabia to support Europe’s participation in a peace meeting on Ukraine indicates an attempt to expand the circle of participation in the international dialogue on the Ukrainian conflict. After more than two years of war, the search for diplomatic solutions to stop the war has become crucial, and the international parties that could contribute to this path are increasing.
Possible dimensions of this call
Saudi Arabia has recently taken a more active role in Middle Eastern and global issues, including mediation efforts. For example, the Kingdom has sought to present itself as a neutral mediator in regional conflicts. This move could help it play a greater role in facilitating negotiations related to the war in Ukraine. As an important economic and energy partner, Saudi Arabia could have an impact in pushing various international parties to cooperate more.
Through this call, Macron may seek to use Saudi influence in the Middle East to push the Saudis to support European efforts to engage their countries in the peace dialogue.
France, as part of the European Union, may want to emphasize that the European region should be a key part of any peace process or negotiations on Ukraine. Saudi support for European participation could help affirm multilateralism in diplomatic efforts and give the process more international legitimacy.
Strengthening multilateral efforts
Macron may try to expand peace efforts to include a wider range of international actors such as Saudi Arabia. France may seek to involve major powers, including the Gulf states, in the diplomatic track to achieve a comprehensive solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Including these parties could help ensure that any agreements or negotiations are more balanced, taking into account the interests of the various parties.
In the context of the Ukrainian war, coordination between major powers such as the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union is essential. Cooperation with Saudi Arabia could help strengthen coordination between these parties, especially if the Kingdom seeks to play a greater diplomatic role in global issues.
Saudi Arabia may be cautious in its involvement in issues such as the war in Ukraine, as it tries to maintain a neutral position on some international issues. Russian interests may also influence Riyadh’s position in this context.
ThroughWith Macron’s support, Saudi Arabia may be able to assert its role as a pivotal diplomatic power in the Middle East and on the international stage, strengthening its position in future negotiations.
Ultimately, Macron’s call with Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to bolster international efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, and attract more actors, including Europe and Saudi Arabia, to participate in the dialogue and find a diplomatic solution that restores stability to the region.
Important international support for Ukraine
Ukraine is playing on its international support by seeking military and economic assistance from its allies, such as the United States and the European Union countries. This support helps it continue its military conflict in the hope of finding a long-term peaceful solution.
At the same time, Ukraine is turning to the International Court of Justice and other international judicial bodies to prosecute Russia for war crimes and human rights violations.
Ukraine’s primary goal is to regain the territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea and parts of Donbas. Ukraine insists that any peace must include restoring its sovereignty over these territories.
Ukraine seeks to impose more sanctions on Russia through the international community, with the aim of weakening Russia’s ability to finance the war. Part of this strategy is to influence the Russian economy and create internal pressure to push Russia to negotiate.
By strengthening its military defenses, Ukraine seeks to deter Russia from expanding the war. In addition, there are attempts to limit Ukrainian civilian and military casualties through strategies aimed at increasing pressure on Russian forces.
Internally, Ukraine seeks to maintain the stability of the government and society despite the difficult circumstances, and to adhere to its firm position in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis. Strengthening national unity in the face of aggression, and promoting democracy, transparency, and political participation can also contribute to strengthening its position in negotiations.
So far, the path to peace remains far away due to the complexity of the situation on the ground and the refusal of some parties to accept the solutions proposed by Ukraine, in addition to the challenges posed by the war itself.
Russian contradiction
Recent developments in Russian politics show a clear contradiction between calls for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and simultaneous decisions to increase the size of the armed forces. On September 16, 2024, President Vladimir Putin issued a decree increasing the size of the Russian military by 180,000 troops, bringing the total to 1.5 million. The decision came in response to what the Kremlin described as “threats” on Russia’s western borders, citing an “extremely hostile situation” in those areas.
At the same time, Russia faces significant challenges in recruiting the required number of soldiers. The Russian military is reportedly struggling to replace losses in Ukraine, where nearly 1,000 casualties are being recorded daily. This situation has led to domestic criticism from pro-Kremlin bloggers, who question the military’s strategy and express dismay at the use of special forces in dangerous missions.
In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry has proposed amendments that would allow the recruitment of individuals with serious illnesses and neurological problems, in an attempt to increase the number of recruits. The authorities are also seeking to recruit at least 126,000 soldiers from special categories, including prisoners and individuals facing financial or legal difficulties, with plans to mobilize at least 280,000 people by 2025.
This contradiction between calls for negotiations and increased military mobilization raises questions about Russia’s true intentions. On the one hand, Moscow declares its readiness for dialogue and negotiation, and on the other, it is taking escalatory steps by increasing the number of troops and expanding the scope of recruitment, reflecting a dual strategy aimed at strengthening Russia’s negotiating position by demonstrating military strength.
