MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state as “a matter of principle,” underlining Russia’s support for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The remarks came during a meeting between Putin and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who arrived in Moscow on an official visit, the Kremlin said.
“It is a matter of principle to resolve the issue of establishing a full-fledged Palestinian State that would coexist in peace and security with Israel,” Putin said.
“This will make it possible to achieve a sustainable settlement and ensure long-term stability in the region,” the Russian President added.
The two leaders also discussed joint efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Monitoring Iran tensions
Putin said Russia is closely monitoring developments in Iran following a threat by US President Donald Trump to carry out strikes against the Islamic republic.
Putin praised the UAE’s engagement in the Ukraine crisis, including facilitating prisoner exchanges and providing a platform for diplomatic contacts.
“We are grateful to you personally for ensuring that the trilateral negotiations within the framework of the working group on security were held in Abu Dhabi last week,” he said.
Moscow and Kyiv held several rounds of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24 aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
UAE commitment to diplomacy
President Al Nahyan said the UAE is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Russia and advancing shared development goals.
He expressed support for political and diplomatic solutions to conflicts that could contribute to regional and international stability.
The Kremlin noted that the UAE is “Russia’s main trading partner in the Arab world,” with relations expanding across nearly all sectors.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said both sides were interested in further expanding cooperation, calling Thursday “the day of Russian-Emirati relations and Russian-Emirati friendship.”
The UAE president’s official visit to Moscow began on Thursday, according to the Kremlin statement.
