MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin complimented Russia’s ties with the United Arab Emirates during a meeting with the UAE’s leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Saint Petersburg on Friday.
Putin said at the start of the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of an economic summit in Russia’s second city, that the UAE is a very excellent partner.
According to AFP, Putin applauded Al-Nahyan for his assistance in prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Russia and the United States.
During the meetings, during which the pair discussed their country’s “strategic partnership,” Al-Nahyan said that he was in support of “de-escalation” and a “political solution” to the Ukraine conflict.
As members of the OPEC+ oil alliance, Russia and the UAE have worked closely together, and Dubai is one of the handful of world capitals that has maintained direct flights to Moscow since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022.
