Putin, MBZ discuss OPEC+ production cut, Ukraine war

Russia’s Putin praises cooperation throughout talks about OPEC+ and the Ukraine warfare with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed his nation’s ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) throughout a gathering with the Gulf state’s chief, and welcomed a current choice by oil-producing nations to restrict manufacturing as key to stabilising the worldwide vitality market.

Talking on Tuesday firstly of his talks in Saint Petersburg with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), Putin described relations between the 2 international locations as “an vital issue of stability” within the area and the world “regardless of all of the difficulties that exist within the worldwide relations at the moment”.

The Russian chief famous MBZ’s help for the choice final week of the OPEC+ group that features Russia to slash oil manufacturing by two million barrels a day, regardless of strain by the US and different international locations.

“Our selections … aren’t directed towards anybody,” Putin stated.

“Our actions are geared toward guaranteeing stability in international vitality markets to make each shoppers of vitality sources and people who cope with manufacturing and provides really feel calm, stability and confidence, to assist stability provide and demand.”

The choice by OPEC+ to slash manufacturing so as to shore up costs has angered Western international locations, the place many noticed it as a transfer that will assist Putin finance Russia’s navy efforts in Ukraine. The manufacturing lower additionally risked saddling US President Joe Biden and Democrats with rising petrol costs simply earlier than the essential midterm US elections.

The UAE has maintained shut enterprise ties with Russia and sought to chorus from becoming a member of the sanctions imposed by the US and different Western allies in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the meantime, UAE state information company WAM stated that MBZ, throughout his assembly with Putin, “affirmed” his nation’s goal to contribute to “strengthening the foundations of worldwide peace and stability”, in addition to to “scale back tensions and discover diplomatic options to crises” in conditions such because the warfare in Ukraine.

The 2 leaders “reviewed quite a few regional and worldwide points and developments of widespread concern”, WAM stated.

This was reiterated in a Twitter publish, the place the UAE chief stated about his assembly with Putin: “We mentioned a number of problems with mutual concern, together with the Ukraine disaster, and the significance of partaking in dialogue to scale back tensions and arrive at a diplomatic resolution.”

For his half, Putin hailed MBZ for mediation efforts that helped clear up some “actually delicate humanitarian points” in Ukraine.

“I’m conscious of your concern concerning the growth of the state of affairs and your need to contribute to the settlement of all disputed points, together with at the moment’s disaster in Ukraine,” Putin stated.