"Putin's Gulf Tour: Mediating in Israel's War or So-Called Friends?"

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, following his visit to the United Arab Emirates. The discussions covered topics such as oil, Gaza, and Ukraine. Putin expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the importance of friendly relations between the two countries. The leaders also discussed the Israeli-Hamas conflict, stability in the Gulf, and other regional issues. Putin's visit to the Gulf region marks his first since 2022 and comes as he seeks to strengthen alliances amid Western attempts to isolate Russia. Both Putin and MBS rely on high oil prices for their economies, and the burden of maintaining prices was a key topic of discussion.