The upcoming summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Riyadh could prove to be a historic moment in the reshaping of the global order.
This is not just another 'routine' meeting between leaders of major powers, but a critical juncture where a multi-front deal could take shape that includes the war in Ukraine, a solution to the crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the adjustment of power relations between the superpowers in preparation for a new era of rivalry between the United States and China.
It had begun in a move that surprised many commentators.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy for the Middle East - a figure not directly connected to the negotiations with Moscow - took off for the Russian capital on a private jet.