Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for an official visit, where he is expected to meet with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Earlier, Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, stated that approximately 30 documents, including economic and trade agreements, have been prepared for signing during Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, King Salman will discuss various areas of cooperation between the two countries, encompassing energy, agriculture, industry, military-technical collaboration, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges, according to Ushakov.
Wednesday’s talks in Saudi Arabia will focus on bilateral relations and the war between Israel and Hamas, spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said earlier.
Issues related to oil market cooperation are also on the agenda, he added.
According to Ushakov, Putin’s primary discussions will be with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prior to that, Putin will be in the UAE, where there will also be a working visit.
“I hope that the outcomes of this visit will be very positive,” said Ushakov as reported by the Russian news agency Sputnik.
Ushakov affirmed that Putin will address bilateral relations, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and international politics.
Additionally, discussions will cover the reduction of oil production within the framework of the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the UAE.
The last time Putin visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE was in 2019, as reported by the official news agency TASS. This marks Putin’s second visit to Riyadh since assuming leadership in Russia.
Bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia carry distinctive historical nuances, dating back to 1926, during the Soviet era, as indicated by official sources.
In that epoch, the Soviet Union became the first non-Arab state to recognize the Kingdom as an independent nation. In 1930, the Soviet consulate in Jeddah was elevated to embassy status.
Official visits from Saudi Arabia have underscored the significance of these ties, particularly with the historic visit by King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Moscow in October 2017.
This marked the first-ever visit by a Saudi monarch to the Russian capital, and it was met with a notable reception from Putin.
Between 2015 and 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conducted multiple visits to Russia, engaging with Putin and a significant number of Russian ministers, officials, and business leaders.
These encounters played a crucial role in elevating the relationship between the two nations.
Official sources identify Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world’s top oil exporters, with Saudi Arabia ranking first, followed closely by Russia.
The countries closely collaborate within the frameworks of OPEC and OPEC+.
