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Local sources from Russia: DW НА РУССКОМ, overclockers.ru.
UK coverage: The Telegraph.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an international visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, where he met with the leaders of these states. Putin discussed bilateral relations and international issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Ukraine. He also discussed cooperation between the two countries in OPEC+ with the Saudi Crown Prince. During his visits, Putin’s plane was accompanied by Russian fighter jets due to the unpredictable situation in the region.

The Kremlin announced that the meeting would discuss topics such as oil markets and strategies for de-escalating the war in Gaza. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been seeking Putin since March for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Ukraine. He did not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa and the G20 summit in India to avoid political disagreements. However, he is not at risk of arrest in the UAE or Saudi Arabia as they have not signed the ICC’s founding treaty.

Putin expressed his commitment to strengthening friendly relations between the two countries and invited the Crown Prince to Moscow. He emphasized the importance of exchanging information and assessments of regional events. The Crown Prince acknowledged that their bilateral cooperation has caused much tension in the Middle East but has also enhanced security, and he expects this to continue.

This visit is part of Russia’s efforts to strengthen its global presence, particularly in the Middle East. It is also Putin’s first trip to the Middle East after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in The Hague. The UAE and Saudi Arabia do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC and do not participate in its work.