Putin does an unusual overseas trip to the UAE amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict
Nearly two years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to the Middle East, where he declared that the relationship between Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had reached an unprecedented level. During his meeting with UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, Putin praised the UAE as Russia’s primary trading partner in the Arab world. He also commended the collaboration between the two nations. Putin’s visit is part of an effort to strengthen ties with Gulf states amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.
Putin, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for suspected war crimes in Ukraine, has limited overseas travel. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, not being parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, do not require his detention. Putin’s visit included symbolic elements, such as a cavalry escort to the Qasr al-Watan Palace, where he met with the UAE President. The leaders discussed various topics, including trade, oil, the Ukraine conflict, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Following his visit to the UAE, Putin was expected to travel to Riyadh to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Russia, a key ally in OPEC+, has strong ties with Gulf governments, which have refrained from joining Western sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine invasion. The Gulf states have previously assisted Russia in prisoner exchanges, with Saudi Arabia mediating the release of nearly 300 individuals, including Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and American basketball player Brittney Griner.
Amid Putin’s Middle East tour, CNN reported that the U.S. submitted a new prisoner swap proposal to Moscow in an attempt to secure the release of two Americans, former Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich. The Kremlin responded that they do not discuss such topics publicly. Whelan and Gershkovich have been held in Russian custody, with Gershkovich marking his 250th day of incarceration and Whelan approaching his fifth year in custody this month.