Putin received with soldiers and cannon shots in Abu Dhabi
As pictures from the Kremlin showed, dozens of soldiers awaited Putin at the palace, while planes sprayed smoke in the sky in the colors of the Russian flag and cannon shots were fired nearby.
"Thanks to your attitude, our relations have reached an unprecedented level today," Putin told President Mohammed bin Sajed al-Nahjan on his arrival, praising the brisk trade between the states. Putin said he would talk to his colleague about the situation "in the hot zones", citing both the Middle East conflict and the "crisis in Ukraine".
Putin then planned to travel on to Saudi Arabia, where he was to be received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the Kremlin, the talks in Riyadh were to focus on trade, investment and international politics.
According to Moscow, Putin's trip to the two Arab countries also included the oil production cuts agreed by the Opec+ oil cartel on the agenda. The program did not specify whether Putin would also visit the UN Climate Change Conference, which is currently taking place in Dubai in the Emirates.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March for the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia. As a result, Putin did not attend the major international meetings and stayed away from both the G20 summit in India in September and the summit of the Brics group of states in South Africa in August.
In the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Putin does not have to expect to be arrested despite the arrest warrant against him. Neither country is a party to the ICC.
Putin recently traveled to countries that are extremely friendly to the Russian head of state: In October, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the New Silk Road Forum. A few days before that, Putin had traveled abroad for the first time since the arrest warrant and visited nearby Kyrgyzstan.
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- Despite the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Putin does not have to fear arrest in the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, as neither country is a party to the ICC.
- Putin's visit to the United Arab Emirates was filled with fanfare, with planes spraying smoke in the Russian flag colors and cannon shots being fired nearby as he was received with soldiers in Abu Dhabi.
- During his visit, Putin praised the strong relations between the two nations and their brisk trade, emphasizing the importance of discussing the "crisis in Ukraine" and the Middle East conflict with President Mohammed bin Sajed al-Nahjan.
- Putin's journey to the United Arab Emirates was the latest in a series of trips to friendly nations, following his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a visit to Kyrgyzstan.
- Amidst the celebrations, Putin did not shy away from discussing serious issues, particularly the ongoing Middle East conflict and the crisis in Ukraine, which he described as "hot zones."
- After receiving a warm welcome in Abu Dhabi, Putin was set to continue his journey to Saudi Arabia, where he would be received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks on trade, investment, and international politics.
- The Kremlin announced that Putin's meetings with the Saudi Arabian leadership would also touch on the oil production cuts agreed upon by the OPEC+ oil cartel.
- Putin's trip to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia came amidst ongoing tensions with the West, with the Russian leader having boycotted several major international meetings due to an arrest warrant issued against him for the abduction of Ukrainian children.
- Putin's absence from events like the G20 summit in India and the summit of the Brics group of states was widely reported, sparking speculation over Russia's international standing amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- In the face of international pressure, Putin appears to be seeking support from friendly allies, leveraging his power and influence in the global arena to advance Russia's interests and navigate through the crisis in Ukraine.
- Putin's visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia was closely followed by international media, with television networks broadcasting live updates from the Kremlin and Abu Dhabi, providing a window into the behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Russia and its Middle Eastern allies.
Source: www.stern.de
