Trump’s Mideast Envoy Expected to Meet Putin in New Moscow Visit

We see it providing that mediating role between the US and Russia, between the US and Ukraine, and it has become an essential player in the Middle East, certainly with regards to the Palestinians, to Syria and to Lebanon,

Neil Quilliam, a foreign affairs specialist at the London-based think tank Chatham House, told DW

Saudi Arabia will certainly use the opportunity to mediate with Ukraine in order to present themselves as a reliable partner, as it wants concessions from Trump, especially with regard to Gaza and a future Palestinian state alongside Israel,

Sebastian Sons told DW

Saudi Arabia has indeed established itself as a platform for dialog in the last two to three years,

Sebastian Sons, a senior researcher for the German think tank CARPO, told DW

With regard to the Middle East, all negotiations in the region go through Riyadh."

Kawas echoed this view

The country refrained from joining the West's criticism and sanctions against Russia, while it was also in regular contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and provided humanitarian aid packages and medical aid worth millions for Ukraine,

Kawas explained

Saudi Arabia's neutrality has led to its current mediating role,

Mohammed Kawas, a London-based political analyst, told DW

Riyadh's priority is to secure its own business model, and for that it needs the US,

he explained

That is not the aim of the Saudis, ... it would rather pave the way for doing business with the US."

he said