Russia's Lavrov calls for end to war in Yemen

Saudi Arabia said recent attacks on the kingdom by Houthi rebels targeted nerve centre of global economy

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a news conference following talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2021. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attending a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh. EPA

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attending a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister, in Riyadh. EPA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhanshake hands prior to their talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhanattend talks in Riyadh. AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud hold a joint press conference. AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Portraits in the background show Saudi King Salman, right, Crown Prince Mohammed, left, and Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the capital Riyadh. AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the capital Riyadh. AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to the capital Riyadh. AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Russia's special envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, to review bilateral relations and the latest developments in Syria. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad review close relations between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reviews bilateral relations with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. SPA

Jordan's King Abdullah II arrives in Riyadh, where he is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. SPA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday the conflict in Yemen needs to end and called for warring sides to sit down at the negotiating table.

At a joint press conference in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Mr Lavrov said Russia is calling for "an immediate end to hostilities in Yemen".

His comments were echoed by Prince Faisal, who said the kingdom was reiterating its support for a political solution to the crisis in Yemen.

"The Houthis should be pressured into signing a ceasefire agreement and sticking to the political course to end the crisis," Prince Faisal said.

The statement came three days after the Houthis tried to attack vital oil facilities in the kingdom with a volley of drones and missiles. Sunday's attacks drove Brent crude prices above $70 a barrel, their highest since January 2020.

Mr Lavrov said Russia shares a common vision with the kingdom on energy markets.

"We will find opportunities for co-operation in securing interests on both the supply and demand sides of the oil market, and we will work to prevent damage to the global economy in this aspect," he added.

He added the two nations shared $1.7 billion in trade last year and said despite the pandemic, they "maintain a positive dynamic in trade exchange.”

Mr Lavrov said investment funds on both sides were finding joint projects to the tune of $ 2.5 billion, including opportunities in nuclear energy, localising production of the Russian vaccine in Saudi Arabia and space exploration.

Prince Faisal said Riyadh would take deterrent action to protect its oil facilities after the most recent attacks.

“The kingdom will not hesitate in defending its territorial integrity and will respond firmly to any threat," he said.

Saudi-led coalition authorities said most of Sunday’s drones and missiles were intercepted en route to their targets and there were no casualties or property losses from the attacks.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been battling a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for six years. The group recently launched explosive-laden drones and missiles at the kingdom with increasing frequency.

On Iran, the Saudi top diplomat said that failing to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran last year was a lost opportunity.

“Iran uses such weapons to fuel conflicts in the region,” he noted.

Russia and China voted against a UN Security resolution last August to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain.

The United States and the Dominican Republic were the only votes in favour.

The embargo was due to expire before the vote under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which provided for many international sanctions against Iran being lifted in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Former US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018.