Trump signals Putin meeting as key to Ukraine peace, lifts Syria sanctions during Mideast tour

Trump Says Putin Meeting Is Essential for Ukraine Peace as He Ends High-Profile Mideast Visit

Former president’s Gulf tour features surprise Syria policy shift, military remarks, and ceremonial honors in UAE

President Donald Trump, currently on a multi-nation tour of the Middle East, declared Thursday that no meaningful progress in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict can occur until he meets directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement marks his most explicit intervention yet in ongoing international efforts to end the war.

“Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the United Arab Emirates.

Trump hints at Istanbul participation in peace talks

While flying to Abu Dhabi, Trump also suggested he might attend ceasefire discussions planned for Friday in Turkey. His potential appearance would add a high-stakes dimension to negotiations many view as pivotal for European and global stability.

During a stop earlier in Qatar, Trump delivered an unscripted speech to U.S. troops stationed in the Gulf, blending policy themes with campaign-style rhetoric. He later visited a mosque in Abu Dhabi before receiving full state honors from Emirati leaders.

Surprise Syria sanctions move stuns US officials

In a major—and unexpected—policy announcement earlier in the week, Trump revealed from Saudi Arabia that he intends to lift longstanding U.S. trade restrictions on Syria, calling for a new opportunity for the country to “achieve greatness.”

“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said Tuesday.

The move blindsided U.S. officials involved in sanctions enforcement. According to an unnamed senior official, “We were shocked by this,” noting that the policy shift was not previewed internally before Trump’s departure for the region.

The administration is now grappling with how to implement the reversal of some of the most extensive sanctions in the world, many of which were enacted during Syria’s 13-year civil war. Options reportedly include issuing piecemeal waivers or enacting a broad rollback with targeted exceptions.

UAE awards Trump highest civilian honor

Trump's diplomatic and symbolic overtures were capped Thursday night with a formal state dinner hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Qasr Al-Watan palace. There, Trump received the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian award in the country.

The honor recognized Trump’s “exceptional efforts to strengthen the long-standing ties of friendship and strategic partnership” between the two nations, an announcer declared as Emirati soldiers presented him with a ceremonial gold necklace.

Political messages from home: Vance speaks at Police Week

While Trump was abroad, Vice President JD Vance represented the administration during National Police Week in Washington. Speaking at the Capitol’s Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, Vance delivered politically charged remarks, tying Republican victories to public safety concerns.

“Last year, in November, I think the American people killed the defund-the-police movement, and they used Donald J. Trump as the murder weapon,” Vance said to applause.

Trump also delivered a prerecorded message to the event, reaffirming his law-and-order stance and continuing to solidify support among law enforcement constituencies.

Wrapping up a high-visibility foreign tour

Trump is scheduled to return to Washington on Friday following morning meetings in Abu Dhabi. His four-day trip through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE has drawn attention for its mix of diplomacy, campaign messaging, policy declarations, and ceremonial spectacle.

Trump’s re-engagement with global flashpoints—from Ukraine to Syria—signals an assertive foreign policy return as he eyes another White House term. Whether his high-profile moves influence diplomatic outcomes or provoke new controversies remains to be seen.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for continued analysis of global diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy, and the 2024 election landscape.