Putin heads to the Middle East, assumes the role of negotiator for the Israel-Hamas conflict

2023-12-05 17:43:59Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Putin heads to the Middle East, assumes the role of negotiator for the
Russian President Vladimir Putin

Seeking to reassert Russia's role in the Middle East, President Vladimir Putin will make a one-day trip to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to focus on the Israel-Hamas war and then host Iran's president in Moscow .

Wednesday's talks in the two countries will focus on bilateral relations and the war between Israel and Hamas, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Issues related to oil price caps under OPEC+ will also be on the agenda, he added.

Putin will also hold talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the Kremlin on Thursday, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

His visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates comes at a time when Russia wants to advance its role as a mediating power in the Middle East conflict.

Putin has sought to cast the war as a failure of US diplomacy, accusing Washington of choosing economic "handouts" for the Palestinians and abandoning efforts to help create a Palestinian state.

He has suggested that Moscow could play the role of mediator, thanks to its friendly ties with both Israel and the Palestinians, charging that "no one can doubt that we play one sided".

Putin's trip was first announced on Monday by his foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, speaking to Russian newspaper Life.


Video