Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on developments related to the Iranian crisis and the repercussions of the ongoing escalation in the region, according to a statement from the Kremlin. These consultations come at a time of rising tensions between the United States and Iran, amid stalled efforts to reach a political settlement and fears of renewed military confrontation.
The statement added, “Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing the political and diplomatic process aimed at reaching consensus-based peace agreements.”
The statement also noted that Putin thanked the UAE for its support on humanitarian issues related to the conflict with Ukraine.
For its part, the official Emirati news agency “WAM” said that “During the call, the two sides reviewed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on them, foremost among which were the latest developments in the Middle East and their serious repercussions on regional and international security and peace, as well as their impact on freedom of international navigation, energy security, and the global economy.”
Relations between Moscow and Abu Dhabi have seen significant development in recent years, as the UAE played a key role in prisoner exchange agreements between Ukrainians and Russians, earning the trust of both sides.
On Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Moscow had received 205 Russian soldiers from Kyiv and, in return, handed over 205 captured members of the Ukrainian armed forces. The statement explained that the UAE had acted as a mediator in the exchange.
However, the war in Iran now dominates discussions between Abu Dhabi and Moscow due to its repercussions on the Middle East and the world.
Russia is considered an ally of Iran and can therefore pressure the Iranian leadership to stop violations, whether regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz—which has negatively impacted energy supplies—or the attacks launched by the Revolutionary Guards from time to time on Emirati territory.
Iran has attacked the UAE and other Gulf states hosting U.S. bases since the war began on February 28. Despite the fragile ceasefire agreement, Tehran continues to launch missiles and drones toward Emirati territory from time to time.
Abu Dhabi has borne the brunt of the missiles and drones since the war began, despite efforts by it and other Gulf capitals to contain the crisis before fighting broke out.
The energy issue also consistently dominates discussions between the UAE and Russia, particularly since Abu Dhabi recently decided to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+.
Earlier, Moscow affirmed that it respects the UAE’s decision to withdraw from OPEC as a “sovereign decision,” while expressing hope for continued cooperation and coordination within the framework of “OPEC+” despite the UAE’s withdrawal.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran that left more than 3,000 dead, according to Tehran, which launched attacks on Israel and Arab countries in the region, resulting in American and Israeli casualties.