Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia today expressed willingness to host a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, who is pushing Ukraine peace talks.

Trump had raised the prospect of a Saudi meeting on Wednesday after he held a surprise phone call with Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The two leaders were "going to meet probably in Saudi Arabia the first time", Trump told reporters.

"The kingdom expresses its welcome to hosting the summit in Saudi Arabia, and reaffirms its ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine," the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement, without confirming whether the meeting would go ahead.

The ministry said it "commends the phone call" between Trump and Putin, and the "possibility" of hosting a summit in the kingdom.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no agreement with Trump as to the details of a meeting between him and Putin, that both sides have said they are working on.

"So far no decisions have been made, neither at the working level, nor at the highest level," Peskov said.

"Of course, it will take time to prepare such a meeting. It could be weeks, it could be a month, it could be several months."