UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with the visit taking place amid continued U.S.-Russia-Ukraine diplomatic efforts hosted by the UAE in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting followed Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the first round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States on January 23-24, 2026, underscoring the UAE’s growing role as a trusted mediator in global conflicts. The trilateral talks focused on territorial issues, security guarantees and political pathways forward, but concluded without a breakthrough agreement. A second round of talks is tentatively scheduled for February 1.
The meeting at the Kremlin focused on strengthening the UAE-Russia strategic partnership and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, technology, space and energy. Sheikh Mohamed expressed hope that 2026 would be a year of progress for Russia and of continued development in bilateral relations, noting that ties between the two countries are built on long-standing trust and mutual respect. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments. Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful solutions to conflicts, while discussions on the Middle East stressed the need to intensify efforts towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.
Sheikh Mohamed thanked President Putin for supporting the UAE’s mediation efforts in prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. Putin welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and expressed appreciation for the UAE’s role in facilitating trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
