Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare foreign visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday for a series of meetings with top UAE officials.
The visit was part of a tour of Gulf nations for Putin, as he looks to strengthen ties in the region amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During the trip, Putin discussed improvements to bilateral ties with the UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as possible outcomes for the Ukraine conflict.
The visit comes at a time when the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government continues to grind on. Although both sides have signed a peace deal, fighting has continued in some areas despite repeated calls for a full ceasefire.
The UAE has backed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for peace in Ukraine and has also expressed its support for the Minsk agreement, which was signed by Russia and Ukraine in 2015 and committed the two countries to a full ceasefire.
Putin also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the energy and investment sectors during his visit. The meeting was reportedly the first between the two leaders in almost a decade.
The two leaders also discussed “regional and international issues related to security and stability,” according to the Emirates’ state news agency.
The visit comes shortly after talks between Putin and US President Donald Trump, with the two leaders discussing the Ukraine conflict among various other issues. Trump has taken a softer approach to the conflict than his predecessor, Barack Obama.
The exchange of views between the US and Russia over Ukraine is seen as critical to reaching any kind of peace agreement in the conflict.
