Putin said that Russian-Saudi relations "have reached a level they have never seen".
< p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-47fd0844-7fff-7f96-a5f7-7cbf43141836">Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, December 6, as part of a lightning tour, designed to enhance Moscow's authority as a Middle Eastern leader, even as the war continues.
Associated Press writes about this.
Fireworks in honor of Putin in the UAE: how the Emirates are trying to “sit on two chairs”
Putin landed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates, where the UN COP28 climate talks are taking place. This was his first trip to the region since the coronavirus pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Speaking at the beginning of negotiations with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nagayan, Putin proposed discussing energy cooperation, the conflict in the Middle East and the “Ukrainian crisis.” He highly appreciated the current state of Russia's relations with the UAE and welcomed the country for holding climate negotiations COP28.
Putin, who has limited his foreign travel since sending troops to invade Ukraine, visited China in October and has made several trips to former Soviet republics in recent months. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the war in Ukraine.
Neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia signed the treaty establishing the ISS, meaning they are not required to detain Putin on a warrant charging him with personal responsibility for the kidnapping of children from Ukraine during the war. Putin skips South Africa summit amid speculation he could be arrested upon arrival.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nagayan, UAE Foreign Minister, greeted a smiling Putin after he stepped off the ramp of his presidential plane. Four Russian Air Force Su-35 fighter jets accompanied him all the way from Russia, landing at Abu Dhabi Commercial Airport, since Al Dhafra Air Base is the main US military center in the region.
Although the UAE is a US ally, it has close ties with Russia. They greeted Putin at the Qasr al-Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi with a 21-gun salute and a flyby of UAE military jets blowing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.
“I am glad to meet you again,” said Sheikh Mohammed, sitting with Putin. He later released a statement saying they discussed the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation to ensure stability and progress.
The Emirati celebrations, which credit the United States as its top security partner, underscore the UAE's extensive business ties with Russia, which have expanded following the tightening of Western sanctions targeting Moscow. Russian commentators say the UAE is a key route for Russia to circumvent sanctions.
New level of Russian-Saudi relations
Upon Putin's arrival in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged a firm handshake and smiles as they walked into the meeting.
Putin said Russian-Saudi relations “have reached a level they have never seen before.” He stated that “it is very important to exchange information and assessments of what is happening in the region.”
Muhammad, in turn, noted that Russian-Saudi cooperation has contributed to strengthening security in the Middle East, adding that “our future political interaction and cooperation will undoubtedly have a positive impact on global situation.”
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After talks involving officials from both countries, Putin and Mohammed also spoke face-to-face over dinner to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas and “other sensitive issues on the international agenda,” according to Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are key participants in international efforts to resolve the war between Israel and Hamas. Putin has close personal ties to both rulers.
Putin's goals in the Middle East
Putin is trying to raise Russia's profile as a mediator in the Middle East conflict and challenge Washington by portraying the war as a failure of American diplomacy. He suggested that Moscow could become a mediator thanks to its friendly ties with both Israel and the Palestinians.
On Thursday, December 7, Putin continues his diplomacy by receiving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the Kremlin.
The war between Israel and Hamas remains a major concern for the Middle East, especially for the UAE, which achieved diplomatic recognition with Israel in 2020. Recent attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels also threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea as Iran's nuclear program continues to rapidly advance following the collapse of the 2016 nuclear deal.
Russia is part of OPEC+, a group of cartel members and other countries that manage oil production to increase crude oil prices. Last week the group extended some production cuts into next year and brought on board a new oil supplier, Brazil. Benchmark Brent crude traded at around $77 a barrel on Wednesday, December 6, down from nearly $100 in September, on concerns about a weakening global economy.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that Putin and Mohammed discussed cooperation within OPEC+ during negotiations on Wednesday, December 6, noting the responsibility of their countries for stabilizing the global oil market.
The world's reaction to “Putin's exit from the bunker”
Putin's visit took place after a number of Western leaders spoke at COP28, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and others, supporting Ukraine.
US Climate Envoy John Kerry and US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power visited the Ukrainian pavilion at COP28.
Later, speaking to reporters, Carrie said in response to a question about Putin: “Besides the fact that you mention him here, I kind of forgot that he might come to the region.”
“I think that because of what he did in Ukraine, his presence may encourage people to do what Europe did – the fastest fuel switch as a result of his actions , said Kerry. “He single-handedly accelerated the transformation of Europe more than anyone else by embracing gas.”
Ukrainians attending the COP28 conference expressed outrage that Putin was in the country while he was committing environmental crimes in their country.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see how the world treats war criminals, because that’s how it is in my opinion,” said Margarita Bogdanova, a worker at the Ukrainian pavilion at the COP28 climate summit, wiping away tears. “To see people allowing people like him into big events, … treating him like a valued guest, is so hypocritical in my opinion.”
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