Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit the UAE and Saudi Arabia this week, as reported by Russian news outlet Shot, citing Putin’s aide Yury Ushakov.

The visit follows the recent agreement among OPEC+ oil producers, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to implement voluntary output cuts of approximately 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd).

Negotiations and Key Meetings Planned:

Ushakov mentioned that Putin’s itinerary includes discussions primarily with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the significance of these talks for both nations.

Putin’s international travel has recently been infrequent, predominantly confined to former Soviet Union states. His last visit beyond these countries was to China in October.

Objectives Beyond OPEC+ Collaboration:

Besides the OPEC+ cooperation, Putin aims to strengthen ties with Gulf states, aligning with his broader strategy to forge global alliances with non-Western nations. 

This move is perceived as an attempt to challenge the efficacy of sanctions imposed by the US and its allies over the Ukraine conflict.