UK's Boris Johnson and UAE's MbZ discuss Ukraine

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on a call that cooperation between the two countries on Ukraine and regional stability was "hugely important for the world", Johnson's spokesperson said.

"The Prime Minister praised the Crown Prince's success in bringing prosperity to both the UAE and the Gulf more generally," the Downing Street spokesperson said on Thursday.

"He (Johnson) expressed his confidence that this cooperation will continue in the years ahead."

The UAE has been criticised for not condemning  Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has welcomed the influx of Russian money to its beachfront villas and luxury hotels. The country has become a safe haven for some Russian oligarchs to park their assets.

The UAE has also backed dictators and militia leaders in the region, as part of a counter-revolutionary push against pro-democracy movements.

Last month, an Emirati official confirmed the country was consulting with the United States on sanctions targeting Russian individuals, but highlighted that it does not want to "lump together" all Russians into one category.

Russia has been accused of massive human rights abuses during its invasion of Ukraine, including operating rape and torture centres, deliberately targeting civilian areas, and disappearing many Ukrainians.

In a speech following Johnson's resignation, he advised his unnamed successor to support Ukraine, after saying in March that Putin's invasion of Ukraine "already fully qualifies as a war crime".

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

(Reuters)