(Moscow) Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the strengthening of relations between Moscow and the United Arab Emirates on Friday during a meeting with the leader of this oil power, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
“The Emirates are a very good partner for us. Relationships […] are developing with great success”, declared Mr. Putin at the start of this interview broadcast on television, on the sidelines of an economic forum in Saint Petersburg (north-west of Russia).
The master of the Kremlin also thanked his host for the role played by the United Arab Emirates in prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, but also between Moscow and Washington.
According to the official Emirati news agency WAM, Mohammed bin Zayed, known as “MBZ”, stressed that he was in favor of “de-escalation” and a “political solution” in Ukraine.
The two leaders also discussed strengthening the “strategic partnership” between their countries, according to the same source.
The United Arab Emirates and Russia cooperate closely on energy, particularly within OPEC+, an organization that brings together the main oil-exporting countries.
Dubai is also one of the few foreign destinations that has maintained direct flights with Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, which allows the United Arab Emirates to benefit from a large influx of Russian tourists.
MBZ is the top foreign leader attending the current St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual event that is supposed to bring together officials and businesses from around the world.
But, because of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia is now isolated in the West and tries to cultivate its relations with the countries of Asia and Africa, in particular.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who met Thursday in Moscow with Mr. Putin, was also due to participate in the Saint Petersburg forum on Friday.