Russian President Vladimir Putin is making his first visit to the Middle East region – to the UAE and Saudi Arabia – since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
How tells Euronews, the head of the Russian Federation held talks in Abu Dhabi with the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and international problems.
In honor of the arrival of Vladimir Putin, the sky in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates was painted in the colors of the Russian flag. The country’s authorities organized a flyover of fighter jets that sprayed the colors of the tricolor in the sky.
According to media reports, American F-16 fighters sprayed a special substance. These aircraft form the backbone of the UAE Air Force’s combat aviation, along with the French Mirages. Ukraine also expects to receive similar equipment from the West. According to open sources, the Emirates has 79 F-16s and 68 Mirages. However, exactly which planes displayed the Russian flag in the sky, and whether the press correctly identified them as F-16s, is difficult to establish.
Then the head of the Russian Federation went to Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, he is scheduled to meet with the Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Putin by the International Criminal Court. However, neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE signed the founding treaty of the ICC, which means they are not obligated to detain the Russian president.
On December 7, Putin returns to Moscow, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.
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