Vladimir Putin to visit Saudi Arabia and UAE in rare trip abroad

Putin has rarely travelled abroad in recent years, and mostly to states of the former Soviet Union. His last trip beyond those countries was to China in October

On Monday, Putin complained of deteriorating ties with the West as he swore in new ambassadors, including from countries such as Britain and Germany

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Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Russia Expo international exhibition and forum at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow, Russia on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE / Mikhael Klimentyev
/ Sputnik / Kremlin Pool

Published: 3:42am, 5 Dec 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week, Russian news outlet Shot reported on Monday, citing Putin’s aide Yury Ushakov.

The reported visit comes after the Opec+ group of oil producers, which includes all three countries, agreed last Thursday to voluntary output cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels a day.

Markets reacted with scepticism to the deal because of doubts about whether the voluntary cuts would be fully implemented. Oil prices fell 2 per cent last week after the announcement, and declined further on Monday. Brent crude was down nearly 0.6 per cent at US$78.45.

The figure of 2.2 million bpd included an extension of existing Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / AFP

Shot quoted Ushakov as saying Putin would go first to the UAE and then to Saudi Arabia, where negotiations would take place mainly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.