Despite an international arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a visit. Putin landed in Abu Dhabi today.
Russian television showed that he was met on the tarmac by Emirati officials before being escorted by cavalry to the presidential palace. The Russian head of state was received there with full honors.
Gun salute and flying squad for reception
As other images released by the Kremlin show, dozens of soldiers waited for Putin at the palace, while planes in the sky spread smoke in the colors of the Russian flag and volleys of shots were fired nearby.
“Thanks to your attitude, our relations today have reached an unprecedented level,” Putin said upon reaching President Mohammed bin Sajed al-Nahjan, praising the dynamic trade between the states. Putin said he would speak to his colleague about the situation “in the hot zones”, citing both the conflict in the Middle East and the “crisis in Ukraine”.
Next stop Saudi Arabia
Putin then wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia, where he would be received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the Kremlin, talks in Riyadh should focus on trade, investments and international politics.
According to Moscow, the cut in production volumes decided by the OPEC+ oil cartel was also on the agenda during Putin’s trip to the two Arab countries. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia. Putin did not travel to major international meetings; he stayed away from both the G-20 summit, in September, in India, and the summit of the BRICS group of countries, in August, in South Africa.
Despite the arrest warrant against him, Putin does not need to wait for arrest in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Both countries are not parties to the ICC.