United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohamed and Putin underlined the steps taken by their countries in recent years in boosting bilateral cooperation in all fields.
They stressed Moscow and Abu Dhabi’s keenness on developing the cooperation on all levels.
Putin expressed his satisfaction with the level of coordination in various fields.
He added that the economic cooperation between the UAE and Russia has witnessed significant leaps in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy.
Putin praised the “joint work” between Russia and the UAE at OPEC+ with the aim of achieving stability in the global energy markets.
He stressed that the group’s actions are not targeted against any party and that its efforts are aimed at striking a balance and stability between the interests of the producers and consumers and meeting market needs.
Putin highlighted the UAE’s “role and regional standing” that is helping bolster mediation efforts to resolve humanitarian issues. He also hailed its role in “resolving crises in different parts of the world.”
The ties between the UAE and Russia are a “significant factor in the stability of the region,” he remarked, adding that he was keen on discussing the situations in Syria and Libya in depth.
He noted Abu Dhabi’s efforts in easing the humanitarian crises caused by the situation in Ukraine, saying he was aware of the UAE’s concern over the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
For his part, Sheikh Mohamed stressed his country’s efforts in helping strengthen the foundations of global peace and stability to reduce tensions and find diplomatic solutions to crises.
The two leaders reviewed a number of regional and international issues and developments of common concern during their meeting.
Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the importance of continuing to make unremitting efforts to find political solutions to crises and tensions, stressing the need for dialogue between all parties.
Furthermore, he underscored the UAE's policy in support of peace and stability on the regional and international arenas.
He called for the need to continue serious consultations to resolve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy to reach a political settlement in order to achieve global peace and security.
Sheikh Mohamed and Putin had last met during a visit by the Russian leader to Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Sheikh Mohamed noted that the trade exchange between their countries rose from $2.5 billion to around $5 billion in recent years in spite of the pandemic.
He also noted the rise in the numbers of Russian tourists visiting the UAE. He revealed that nearly half a million Russians had visited his country in the past year alone.
Moreover, he noted that some 4,000 Russian companies are operating in the UAE, hoping that cooperation between their countries will increase in the future.
