UAE President MbZ tells Russia's Putin: we wish to strengthen ties

The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that his nation wished to strengthen ties.

"I am pleased to be here today with you, your Excellency, and we wish to build on this relationship and we put our trust in you to do so," Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told Putin on the sidelines of a forum in St Petersburg on Friday.

The Middle East economic powerhouse has sought to maintain what it says is a neutral position on the Ukraine war.

Today I met with President Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE & Russia, & the situation in Ukraine. The UAE continues to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution through dialogue & diplomacy - towards global peace & stability. pic.twitter.com/LSPG50HRXV

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) June 16, 2023

"The UAE continues to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution through dialogue & diplomacy - towards global peace & stability," Sheikh Mohamed, often referred to using the initials "MbZ", tweeted after the meeting.

Putin had earlier thanked the president for his efforts on freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine.

(Reuters)