UAE President calls on Putin to promise further “friendly relations”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan treated Vladimir Putin to the red carpet during his state visit in December 2023 of the year. Photo: SERGEY SAVOSTYANOV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

Vladimir Putin and the President of the United Arab Emirates promised to further develop their “friendly relations” after discussing in a telephone conversation the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.< /p>

Putin, who is the subject of an international arrest warrant after illegally invading Ukraine, was given the red carpet during his rare state visit to the UAE in December.

The Russian president thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the UAE's assistance in the prisoner exchange of more than 200 soldiers on each side between Moscow and Kiev last month.

Putin also raised the issue of a «terrorist attack by Ukraine against an Il-76 plane with prisoners,» as well as additional assistance to the Gaza Strip, the Kremlin said.

Russia accuses Ukraine of shooting down a Russian transport last month plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners, but did not provide evidence that they were on board. Both sides ordered an investigation into the incident.

Both leaders “reaffirmed their principled position in favor of an early ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” the Kremlin said.

Putin is wanted for kidnapping children in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court, which the UAE has appealed to. not a signatory.

Sheikh Mohamed called Putin his “dear friend” and the Russian president hailed the “unprecedented relationship” between Russia and the UAE during a December state visit.

Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE, flew past in December. Photo: MOHAMED AL HAMMADI/UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT/DEVELOPMENT/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

The UAE defended the propaganda coup as a way to improve the chances of peace in Ukraine and Israel through “communication and dialogue.”

In within OPEC+ A group of oil-producing countries, Russia needs trade with the UAE more than ever after Europe reduced its dependence on Russian gas following Putin's invasion nearly two years ago.

The Russian autocrat used the conflict between Israel and Hamas as a means of criticizing the United States and its relations with Israel.

A Hamas delegation was welcomed in Moscow after the October 7 attacks. Iran supports a terrorist organization that has killed more than 1,000 people and kidnapped about 250 others in the attack.

Russia and Iran worked together as Red Sea attacks distracted from the war in Ukraine, Grant Shapps said Minister of Defense on Monday.

Tehran supports the Houthis, who have attacked international shipping in the Red Sea, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the US and UK.

“Does it feel that there is actually a link to a separate conflict, and that it is the conflict in Ukraine? » Sir Julian Lewis asked Mr Shapps in the House of Commons.

“Is it not more than a coincidence that the proxies of Russia's ally in the Middle East have become so much more active while Russia is so desperate that are we turning our attention away from supporting Ukraine?»

Mr Shapps said in response: «My dear friend has hit the nail on the head.»

«Russia and Iran are working together, in fact they are the drones are shooting. Sometimes the Shahed drones that the Russians fly into Ukraine thanks to Iran are also fired by the Houthis.”

He confirmed that HMS Diamond had been replaced by HMS Richmond in the Red Sea on Monday.

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The Defense Secretary told the House of Commons that the Type 23 frigate will “take up that mantle” in the fight against the Iran-backed Houthis.