UAE and Russia strengthen ties amidst Ukraine conflict.

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and called for stronger diplomatic ties. The UAE has tried to maintain a neutral stance towards Russia, unlike much of the Western world that has imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The UAE has not joined Western sanctions on Russia and is one of the few states that maintains direct flights to Moscow. The two countries have also cooperated as members of the OPEC+ oil alliance.