Vladimir Putin thanks the UAE for mediation as H.H. Sheikh Mohamed meets the Russian leader in Moscow, pushing trade, diplomacy and regional stability to the centre of a deepening partnership….reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin opened high-level talks in Moscow by thanking the United Arab Emirates for its mediation efforts in the Ukraine conflict, as he welcomed President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Kremlin for wide-ranging discussions on diplomacy, trade and regional stability.
Putin expressed his appreciation for the UAE’s role in facilitating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and for hosting trilateral talks involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington, describing the Emirati efforts as constructive and valuable at a time of heightened global tensions.
The talks took place during Sheikh Mohamed’s official visit to Russia, marking a key moment in the steadily expanding strategic partnership between the two countries, which will mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. At the start of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed conveyed his hope that the year ahead would bring growth and prosperity to Russia and further progress in UAE-Russia ties.
Trade, investment and technology
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across trade, investment, energy, technology, space and industry, sectors that have become central to the bilateral relationship. Officials said the discussions reflected a shared ambition to build long-term, development-focused partnerships that support economic growth and innovation in both countries.
Sheikh Mohamed highlighted two landmark agreements signed in recent months — the Trade in Services and Investment Agreement concluded in August and the Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union signed in June — noting that both deals are expected to significantly boost trade flows and investment while supporting sustainable development.
Putin pointed to the steady rise in bilateral trade and investment, highlighting the role of joint projects between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Mubadala, which have together delivered more than 60 initiatives across multiple sectors. He also noted growing cooperation in high technology, with Russian companies expanding their presence in the UAE market, and new initiatives taking shape in the energy sector.
Middle East peace
Regional and international developments formed a central part of the discussions, with both leaders exchanging views on the Middle East, Ukraine and other global challenges. Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s long-standing commitment to promoting peace through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that peaceful solutions remain the only sustainable path to resolving conflicts.
On the Middle East, the two leaders underlined the urgency of intensifying efforts towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which they said remains essential for long-term stability and security in the region. They also discussed humanitarian concerns in Gaza and broader regional dynamics, including developments related to Iran.
Humanitarian cooperation
Sheikh Mohamed thanked President Putin for supporting the UAE’s mediation efforts and reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s readiness to continue supporting constructive humanitarian initiatives. He described the prisoner exchanges as a reflection of the UAE’s commitment to easing human suffering while keeping diplomatic channels open even in times of conflict.
Putin, for his part, praised the UAE’s expanding role in global diplomacy and thanked it for hosting key international engagements, including security-related working group meetings held in Abu Dhabi. He also highlighted the rapid growth in people-to-people ties, noting that 1.5 million Russian tourists visited the UAE in the first nine months of 2025 alone, an 18 per cent increase year-on-year.
Cooperation in education, science and culture has also expanded, with joint institutions and university branches now operating in the UAE, alongside new plans for academic and research collaboration.
Following expanded-format talks with delegations from both countries, Sheikh Mohamed and President Putin held a private one-on-one meeting over an official breakfast, where sensitive geopolitical and economic issues were discussed in greater depth. Putin later hosted a luncheon in honour of the UAE President and his delegation.
An official welcoming ceremony was held at the Kremlin, featuring the national anthems of both nations, an honour guard and cavalry, and formal greetings. As Sheikh Mohamed departed Moscow at the conclusion of his visit, his aircraft was escorted by Russian military jets in a symbolic gesture of respect.
