Vladimir Putin has invested time and resources in preserving his relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a think tank says. Photo: SPUTNIK/REUTERS
Vladimir Putin will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday amid Western concerns that it has become a center for sanctions-busting Russian oil and money.
Both Britain and the EU sent to the country diplomats. ensure that the tens of thousands of Russians traveling to the UAE, especially Dubai, do not use it as a springboard to evade Western sanctions.
The UAE, which is hosting the Cop28 climate change summit in Dubai, is pushing for export curbs and re-export to conflict zones of dual-use products that can be used for military purposes.
Putin has not traveled outside China, Iran and the former Soviet Union since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine last February.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March over illegal deportation children from Ukraine, leaving most of the world out of his reach.
Saudi Arabia, which he will also visit on Wednesday. and the UAE are not parties to the Treaty of Rome that established the ICC, meaning countries should not arrest Putin and hand him over to The Hague for trial.
“Putin hugged Mohammed bin Salman”
Cinzia Bianco, Gulf Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said: “Putin has invested time and resources in preserving his relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE and, of course, with their respective leaders.”
“Putin made a point of hugging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when the West sidelined him after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
“Mohammed bin Salman repaid him by maintaining coordination on energy policy that has almost existential value for Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine. Instead, the UAE offered Russia a way out of complete isolation by expanding trade relations and keeping Moscow abreast of regional politics.”
UK, US and EU officials also held talks with the UAE. like Turkey and Kazakhstan, seeking to close alternative routes for Russia to provide computer chips and electronic components for use on the battlefield.
The Middle Eastern country has seen a surge in trade in these products with Russia, the sources said, citing trade data .
Western sources said they believe negotiations with the UAE have yielded positive results, and their government has agreed to tighten controls over transit supplies to Russia.
The UAE “recognizes the risks to its reputation”< p>“I think they understand the pressure, the reputational risks, and the risk of secondary US sanctions,” one said. One of the tactics used to persuade countries to help Russia bypass sanctions is is to exchange trade information that proves that Moscow is using them as a springboard to evade punitive measures.
Middle Eastern countries have tried to position themselves as mediators in Putin's war with Ukraine.
On Tuesday, it was announced that six Ukrainian children would be returned home from Russia as part of a deal brokered by Qatar.
This is the second part of the agreement. The agreement on the return of the children was brokered by Qatar after four minors returned.
The children are among thousands who Ukraine says were forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-controlled territory.
“Building on the momentum of recent weeks, Qatar continues to successfully play a mediating role between the governments of Ukraine and Russia. facilitating the reunification of six more Ukrainian children with their families in time for the holiday break,” said Lolwa Al Khater, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation.
Saudi Arabia previously convened an international peace summit, inviting some 40 countries to talks in Jeddah, while its crown prince held talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and brokered a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia last year that secured the release British and Russian citizens. American citizens.
The UAE also played a role in the release of American basketball player Britney Greiner, who was sentenced by Russia to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges.
The Kremlin said Putin will discuss bilateral relations, oil and international affairs as part of a “working visit” to both countries on the same day and will hold talks with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
“Very important” talks with Saudi Arabia< p>Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, told the Russian channel of the Telegram Shot app that the talks in Saudi Arabia will be “very important.”
“I hope these talks will be very useful.» «, he added.
The trip is part of a flurry of diplomatic activity by Putin this week. The Russian leader is also expected to receive Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow on Thursday.
Putin's meetings come amid signs of weakening Western activity. Ukraine's support and proposals Kiev is urged to consider the possibility of peace talks to end the war.
Zelensky promises to continue the fight with Ukraine
Izvestia, a pro-Kremlin daily, citing an anonymous senior source, reported that Russia would not be against holding negotiations with Ukraine in a European country like Hungary.
Mr Zelensky has vowed to continue Ukraine's fight to oust the Russian occupiers.
In an interview last week, he insisted that Kiev's allies are not pressuring him to negotiate with Russia, but he acknowledged that «some voices are always heard.»
Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE has signed up to international sanctions on Russia. in an attempt to starve Putin's war machine of much-needed funds in Ukraine.
The US is targeting companies and individuals in the UAE that it accuses of instigating Russia's war against Ukraine.
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