The UAE President offers assistance in ending the war in Ukraine
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday his country’s readiness to contribute to the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin described the UAE as a “comfortable and very good partner,” noting that the relations between Moscow and Abu Dhabi are rapidly developing.
The United Arab Emirates relies on a peaceful diplomatic policy in dealing with regional and international crises. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, it has declared its neutrality in the crisis but emphasized the importance of dialogue and peaceful resolution to the conflict. The UAE has also refrained from participating in Western sanctions against Russia and has adhered to the oil alliance policy led by Saudi Arabia, OPEC, and ten non-OPEC oil-producing countries, including Moscow, known as OPEC+.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed affirmed the UAE’s consistent approach in supporting peace, stability, and political solutions to conflicts and disputes, including the Ukrainian crisis, through de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy, according to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM).
After his meeting with Putin, he wrote on Twitter, “We discussed cooperation between the UAE and Russia, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest and the importance of political solutions to the Ukrainian crisis. The UAE’s approach is to build bridges of cooperation and dialogue with everyone to serve peace and prosperity in the world.” He also highlighted the “importance of intensifying efforts to alleviate the humanitarian consequences of the Ukrainian crisis and supporting prisoner exchange initiatives for both parties.”
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has established a comprehensive approach based on problem-solving and focusing on sustainable growth, which has enhanced the UAE’s international and regional standing as a key and important player in addressing scattered crises. In turn, President Putin praised the relations between the two countries, stating to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, “The relations between Russia and the UAE are distinctive and work for the benefit of both parties.”
Putin also praised the efforts of the UAE President in contributing to the resolution of several humanitarian issues amidst the Ukrainian conflict, particularly regarding prisoner exchanges.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed began his speech by saying, “Thank you, my friend President Putin, for the invitation and for welcoming the companies present in the beautiful city,” emphasizing that “cooperation between the private and public sectors plays a significant role between the two countries.” He pointed out the rapid development of tourism between the UAE and Russia, noting that the UAE aims to attract one million Russian tourists this year.
During his visit to the UAE pavilion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Russian President revealed ongoing discussions on establishing an industrial zone in Egypt, while the UAE President proposed trilateral cooperation between Moscow, Cairo, and Abu Dhabi to implement the project, according to Russia Today.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is the prominent foreign leader participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual event that brings together officials and companies from around the world.
And the UAE participates in the forum with the aim of promoting UAE industries, product quality, competitive operational costs in Abu Dhabi, and the facilities and incentives provided for investment partnerships in the industrial sector, to attract more industrial and technological investments, according to the Emirates News Agency “WAM.”
The UAE declared its stance of neutrality in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, calling for dialogue to end the armed conflict and advocating for political solutions. The oil-rich state did not participate in the sanctions imposed on several Russian officials, while Dubai, as a major financial hub in the Gulf region, served as a haven for Russian capital amidst the tightening of Western sanctions on Moscow.
Russia and the UAE cooperate closely through the OPEC+ oil alliance, and Dubai is one of the few global capitals that has maintained direct flights to Moscow after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, allowing Abu Dhabi to benefit from a significant influx of Russian tourists.
The President of the UAE visited Moscow in October 2022, where he met with Putin as part of the Gulf state’s efforts to achieve security and stability and urged all parties to sit at the negotiating table. Diplomacy succeeded in resolving several tensions by adopting an approach that focuses on problem-solving. This week, Abu Dhabi hosted a consultative meeting between delegations from Iran, Germany, France, and Britain, aiming to push forward stalled talks between Tehran and Western powers.
Abu Dhabi looks forward to a bright future and promising prospects through a strategy that solidifies the country’s position as an active player in various fields, crowning the achievements of the past fifty years of Emirati progress and serving as a launching pad for the next fifty years of ambitious sustainable achievements.
A comprehensive report by The Wall Street Journal shed light on the strategy adopted by the President of the UAE, which focuses on maintaining balanced relationships with all parties to transform the UAE into a friend to everyone, thus enhancing Abu Dhabi’s ability to resolve regional and international crises and establish the foundations of security and stability.
