PARIS - Russian President Vladimir Putin and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan held a phone conversation on Monday, following the failed mutiny attempt by the Wagner Group in Moscow last week.
According to the Kremlin, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his interest in hearing Putin's assessment of the situation in Russia and the measures taken to restore order and stability. Putin informed him of the details of the incident, which involved a group of mercenaries from the Wagner group, a private military company with ties to Russia, who tried to storm the Kremlin and assassinate Putin on June 24.
The mutiny attempt was quickly suppressed by the Russian security forces, who killed or captured most of the attackers. Putin accused some foreign powers of being the plot but did not name them. He also vowed to punish those responsible and prevent any further attempts to destabilize Russia.
Sheikh Mohammed declared his full support for Putin and the actions of the Russian leadership, according to the Kremlin. He also reaffirmed the strong and strategic partnership between Russia and the UAE, and their mutual commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields, especially in energy, trade and investment.
The UAE's state news agency WAM reported that both leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest. They also exchanged views on the latest development in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iran, and stressed the need for peaceful solutions to these conflicts.
The phone call between Putin and Sheikh Mohammed was seen as a sign of solidarity and friendship between the two countries, which have maintained close ties for decades. Russia and the UAE have collaborated on several projects, such as nuclear energy, space exploration and prices with OPEC+.
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