Talks expected to focus on Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and oil market cooperation, says Kremlin spokesperson. Russian President Vladimir Putin, staking out a more influential role in the Middle East, will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, and host Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow the following day.
The talks will focus on bilateral relations and the Israel-Hamas war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. Peskov said that discussions on oil market cooperation will be on the agenda of talks, as Moscow cooperates with all three countries through OPEC+, which is comprised of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia. “These discussions are held within the OPEC+ format, but of course, cooperation in this area is always on the agenda,” said Peskov.
The OPEC+ group, which Putin helped create in 2016, announced new voluntary supply cuts last week, which met scepticism from the oil market. Separately, Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said that Saudi-Russian cooperation within the oil cooperation body was “fruitful”. “Fairly close Russian-Saudi coordination in this format is a reliable guarantee of maintaining a stable and predictable situation in the global oil market,” Ushakov said, according to Russian news agencies.
Putin’s drive to bolster its ties with Gulf and other Middle Eastern states is part of his efforts to demonstrate that Western attempts to isolate Moscow through sanctions for its war on Ukraine have failed. The Russian leader has not made many international trips after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, accusing Putin of deporting Ukrainian children. Neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia have signed the ICC’s founding treaty, meaning they would not have to arrest him if he entered their territories.
With regards to Israel’s current bombardment of Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 attacks, Putin has sought to cast the war as a failure of U.S. diplomacy, charging that Washington had opted for economic “handouts” to the Palestinians and abandoned efforts to help create a Palestinian state. He has suggested Moscow could play the role of mediator, thanks to its friendly ties with both Israel and the Palestinians, saying that “no one could suspect us of playing up to one party.”
In recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been actively pursuing a more influential role in the Middle East. This week, he embarked on a series of high-profile visits, starting with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, followed by hosting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow. These visits are aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and discussing important regional issues, such as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has highlighted that discussions on oil market cooperation will also be on the agenda. Russia, as part of the OPEC+ group, has been cooperating with these countries to stabilize the global oil market. Last week, OPEC+ announced new voluntary supply cuts, but the market remained skeptical.
Putin’s efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf and other Middle Eastern states are seen as a response to Western attempts to isolate Russia through sanctions related to its war on Ukraine. The Russian leader has faced international criticism, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant accusing him of deporting Ukrainian children. However, neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia, both of which Putin is visiting, are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty, protecting him from potential arrest during his visits.
Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Putin has positioned himself as a critic of U.S. diplomacy, claiming that Washington’s approach of providing economic aid to the Palestinians while neglecting efforts to establish a Palestinian state has contributed to the current escalation. Putin has offered Russia’s mediation services, emphasizing its impartiality due to its friendly relations with both Israel and the Palestinians.
By engaging in high-level diplomacy in the Middle East, Putin aims to demonstrate Russia’s relevance and influence on the world stage. These visits and discussions on critical issues like the Israel-Hamas war and oil market cooperation underscore Putin’s commitment to shaping regional dynamics and challenging Western narratives.
In conclusion, Putin’s visits to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and hosting the Iranian President in Moscow mark significant developments in Middle East diplomacy. The talks will address bilateral relations, the Israel-Hamas war, and oil market cooperation, highlighting Putin’s efforts to assert Russia’s role in the region. As the global community closely watches these diplomatic engagements, their outcomes will undoubtedly impact the geopolitical landscape and Russia’s position on the world stage.
