UAE And Russia Deepen Strategic Partnership During Moscow Talks

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks centred on strengthening the UAE-Russia strategic partnership and reviewing major regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the wider Middle East, with both leaders stressing dialogue, stability, and cooperation across key economic and security fields during His Highness’ official visit to the Russian Federation.

The meeting took place at the Kremlin during the official visit, where His Excellency Putin hosted His Highness for formal talks and a luncheon, while both sides used the engagement to reaffirm long-term cooperation, highlight shared interests, and discuss practical steps to expand bilateral ties in trade, investment, technology, space, and energy, which remain core priorities for the UAE and Russia.

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Early in the discussions, His Highness said 2026 should be a year of growth and progress for Russia and a period of continued development in UAE-Russia relations, noting that the partnership has grown over more than 50 years on the basis of trust, mutual respect, and joint efforts to advance sustainable development and prosperity for all nations.

The leaders reviewed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, with trade, investment, advanced technology, space exploration, and energy highlighted as central pillars of the UAE-Russia strategic partnership, as both countries aim to increase economic exchanges, support new projects, and coordinate on long-term initiatives that can strengthen resilience in their respective economies.

His Highness drew attention to two important economic agreements recently concluded, explaining that the Trade in Services and Investment Agreement signed between the UAE and Russia in August, together with the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in June between the UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union, is expected to raise trade and investment flows and further support sustainable development while tightening bilateral economic links.

He underlined that the UAE seeks to build effective, development-focused partnerships worldwide and supports wider international cooperation to address shared challenges, stating that UAE-Russia relations fit within this approach, as both sides work to encourage stability, economic growth, and practical collaboration that can benefit their own societies and the broader international community.

UAE-Russia relations, Ukraine crisis and mediation

The talks in Moscow included an exchange of views on the crisis in Ukraine, where His Highness thanked His Excellency Putin for backing the UAE’s mediation efforts in prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, expressing pride in cooperating on this humanitarian file and reaffirming the UAE’s readiness to support all constructive initiatives that can ease tensions and reduce human suffering.

His Excellency Putin, in turn, welcomed His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Russia and expressed appreciation to the UAE for hosting trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, which aimed to explore diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine crisis, while also thanking the UAE for continued mediation efforts that have already resulted in successful prisoner exchanges between the two countries.

Beyond Ukraine, the leaders discussed wider regional and international developments, with particular attention to the Middle East, where both sides agreed on the urgent need to intensify diplomatic work to secure a clear path toward a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which they said is essential for lasting stability and security for all peoples in the region.

His Highness reiterated the UAE’s commitment to promoting peace and stability globally, explaining that this approach stems from the UAE’s conviction in the importance of dialogue, negotiation, and peaceful solutions to resolve conflicts at both regional and international levels, and that cooperation with Russia forms part of a broader UAE effort to support balanced, diplomatic engagement worldwide.

Protocol elements of the visit included an official reception ceremony for His Highness at the Kremlin, where His Excellency Putin received the UAE delegation, national anthems of both countries were played, and an honour guard with cavalry was present, while the talks were attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, and a number of Sheikhs, ministers, and senior officials from the UAE and Russia.

His Excellency Putin later hosted a luncheon in honour of His Highness and the accompanying delegation, and the visit concluded with the departure of His Highness from Moscow; as the presidential aircraft left Russian airspace, it was escorted by a formation of military jets as a farewell gesture of respect, underscoring the importance both sides attached to the official visit and the wider UAE-Russia relationship.

With inputs from WAM