Saudi Crown Prince, Russia's Putin Discuss Efforts to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Russia's Putin Discuss Efforts to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin on efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

They also tackled means to develop cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Crown Prince Mohammed underscored the Kingdom’s keenness on facilitating dialogue and any efforts that may help reach a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

For his part, Putin expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and its constructive efforts, noting its balanced relations with all parties, its international standing and pioneering role in bolstering global security, peace and stability.

At the directives of Crown Prince Mohammed, Jeddah hosted on Tuesday talks between Washington and Kyiv as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to end the Ukraine crisis.



Saudi-Iraqi Cooperation Thwarts Drug Smuggling Operation

 The drug shipment was intercepted with the assistance of "important information" provided by Saudi's drug enforcement agency. SPA
The drug shipment was intercepted with the assistance of "important information" provided by Saudi's drug enforcement agency. SPA
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Saudi-Iraqi Cooperation Thwarts Drug Smuggling Operation

 The drug shipment was intercepted with the assistance of "important information" provided by Saudi's drug enforcement agency. SPA
The drug shipment was intercepted with the assistance of "important information" provided by Saudi's drug enforcement agency. SPA

Iraq's security forces have seized an estimated 1.1 ton of captagon pills hidden inside a truck that entered Iraq from Syria via Türkiye, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

The drug shipment, the largest ever seized in Iraq, was tracked and intercepted with the assistance of "important information" provided by Saudi's drug enforcement agency, the Interior Ministry spokesperson Brigadier Muqdad Meri said in a televised statement.

Saudi Arabia said it contributed to thwarting an attempt to smuggle seven million amphetamine pills into Iraq, according to a statement by ministry security spokesman Colonel Talal bin Abdul Mohsen bin Shalhoub.
Through proactive security monitoring of criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, the General Directorate of Narcotics Control provided intelligence to its Iraqi counterpart, leading to the interception of the illicit shipment. The drugs were concealed within a consignment of children's toys and ironing boards.
Shalhoub praised the close cooperation between Saudi and Iraqi authorities in combating drug smuggling.

He reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to tracking and dismantling criminal operations involved in narcotics production and trafficking, in collaboration with counterpart agencies in brotherly and friendly countries.