Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan leads Vladimir Putin past the guard of honor at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. Photo: UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT/Getty/AFP
Vladimir Putin said relations with the UAE had reached an unprecedented level as he was welcomed into the country with an air parade and Russian flags, despite an international warrant for his arrest.
The Russian leader has been detained. Meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the UAE, as the Kremlin declared itself «the main economic partner in the Arab world.»
The red carpet was rolled out for Putin, who has been virtually isolated on the world stage since the war in Ukraine, since his plane, accompanied by four Russian Su-35S fighters, was escorted into the airspace of the UAE by the country's air force.
The trip is seen as an attempt by Putin to strengthen alliances with more conservative states as a counterweight to Western efforts to cut off Russia.
As he landed, Britain announced it would impose sanctions on UAE firms that help fuel the Russian war machine.
Putin is wanted for kidnapping children in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court, which the UAE, supposedly neutral regarding the war, has not signed.
At 14:00 local time, Putin was taken to the palace in a presidential convoy of police cars and armored vehicles as a military helicopter flew overhead.
«Dear Friend»
«Today, thanks to your position, our relations have reached an unprecedented level,» Putin told Sheikh Mohamed, who said the Russian president was his «dear friend.»
Outside the Qasr al-Watan palace, security was tight : Police were stationed around the complex.
On both sides of the road leading to the palace, there was a mounted guard of honor. Half of the soldiers in national clothes sat on Arabian horses, the other on camels — all carried either the Russian flag or the UAE flag.
As Putin entered the palace, which boasts an ornate dome adorned with a chandelier made from 350,000 pieces of crystal, seven fighter jets flew past in formation.
An aerobatic team performs a flyby during Vladimir Putin's arrival on a state visit to Abu Dhabi. Photo: PRESIDENTIAL COURT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock < p>They followed the white, blue and red Russian flag as a salvo heralded Putin's arrival and the national anthems played.
The 71-year-old, who has courted allies in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia amid attempts The West to isolate Moscow was clearly delighted.
“Thank you very much, this is so beautiful,” he said. When Putin was asked about his mood, he replied: “Excellent! It was good, it got even better!”
The festive spectacle in the Emirates, which relies on the United States as its main security partner, underscores its extensive business ties with Russia, which have expanded since tougher Western sanctions. Moscow.
The topic of trade was on the agenda of negotiations with Sheikh Mohamed. Putin noted that Russia and the UAE cooperate within the framework of OPEC, whose members produce more than 40 percent of the world's oil.
He added that they will discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in Syria, Yemen and the war in Ukraine.
This is only his third visit outside the former Soviet Union since the war began; the Russian president later met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.
His last visit to the region was in July 2022, when he met in Iran with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On Thursday, Putin will receive Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow.
Putin's visit to the UAE comes after the country welcomed scores of wealthy Russians fleeing sanctions in London and the West.
< p>His visit to the Middle East also comes at a time when his troops are on the front lines in Ukraine and Western military support appears to be waning.
UK imposes sanctions on UAE firms
Soon after As Putin lands, Britain announces it is imposing sanctions on four UAE companies accused of helping Russian oil exports evade Western punitive measures over the invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement was made to coincide with a call between G7 leaders and Foreign Secretary David Cameron traveling to Washington to urge the UK and US to continue to support Ukraine.
Russia is using a 'dark fleet' of tankers and companies operating outside Western markets to avoid paying the $60 (£47) price cap on Russian oil imposed by the G7 countries.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Star Voyages Shipping, Oil Tankers (SCF) Management, K&O Shipmanagement and Radiating World Shipping Services used “opaque corporate structures and deceptive shipping practices.”
in the UAE can legally buy and sell Russian oil at any price as long as they use non-European shipping and financial services providers.
Saif Islam of geopolitical risk consultancy S-RM said the «key purpose» of Putin's visit was » continuing to use relationships with the UAE and Saudi Arabia to deal with Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.»
«Putin's visit to the Middle East is an «obvious» win for him, as well as a «safe» visit » said James Nixey, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House.
Cinzia Blanco, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the visit showed Putin is losing influence in the Middle East.< /p>
“Almost two years after the invasion, it seems that Putin is flying to the region to support the UAE's interest, rather than the other way around,” she said.
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