Moscow
The Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday that President Vladimir Putin will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, followed by hosting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that the recently agreed oil output cuts by the OPEC+ group would take time to take effect, citing the inertia in the oil market. He mentioned that coordination efforts would continue, and while discussions on oil market cooperation are held within the OPEC+ format, cooperation in this area is always on the agenda during diplomatic visits.
Putin’s Gulf trip is not solely focused on energy issues. Besides discussing oil market cooperation, Putin aims to strengthen ties with the Gulf States as part of his broader strategy to build global alliances outside the Western sphere. This move also serves to emphasize what he considers the failure of the United States and its allies to isolate Russia through sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
Regarding the upcoming visit of Iran’s President Raisi to Moscow, Peskov stated that the agenda is still being prepared but is likely to include regional issues, such as the conflict in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. It’s noteworthy that Russia’s hosting of a Hamas delegation in Moscow has stirred tensions with Israel.
