Putin to Discuss Israeli-Hamas Conflict During Visits to UAE and Saudi Arabia

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for a one-day journey to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as to host the Iranian president in Moscow, according to Kremlin announcements made on Tuesday.

Scheduled for Wednesday, Putin’s working visits to both nations were confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

These discussions will primarily revolve around bilateral ties, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and other global issues, stated Peskov. He also noted that the talks would include deliberations on the oil price limits under the OPEC+ framework.

The plan for Putin’s trip was initially revealed on Monday by his foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, in a conversation with Russian news outlet Life, although the exact dates of the visits were not disclosed at that time.

“These negotiations are expected to be highly productive and are of significant importance,” Ushakov commented, as reported by Life.

Putin’s visit comes at a pivotal moment when Russia is keen to enhance its influence as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.

Additionally, Putin is set to welcome Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin on Thursday, as further stated by Peskov.

Previously, Putin had visited China in October and made several trips to nations that were once part of the Soviet Union.

In a notable development, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March, alleging his direct involvement in war crimes, specifically the abduction of children from Ukraine.

Following the issuance of this warrant, Putin abstained from attending a BRICS summit in South Africa, a country bound by its ICC treaty obligations to arrest him upon arrival.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty.

This warrant against Putin in March marked the first instance of the global court issuing such an order against a leader from one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. The ICC accused Putin of the war crime of “unlawful deportation” of children from Ukrainian territories under occupation to Russia.

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More about Putin Middle East Diplomacy

• Kremlin’s Announcement on Putin’s Trip
• Background on Israel-Hamas Conflict
• Details on International Criminal Court’s Warrant Against Putin
• Overview of Russia’s Role in Middle East Diplomacy
• Implications of Putin’s Avoidance of ICC Treaty Countries