Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed meets Putin, signs 'strategic partnership'

The two leaders also issued a joint call for a coalition to fight terrorism and extremism

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (left) and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right), stand for a photograph after the signing of a memorandum of understanding, at the Kremlin Palace. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (fourth left), meets Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (fifth right), at the Kremlin. They are seen with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (left), Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (second left), Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor (third left), Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia (third right) and Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia (right). Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia (third right) and Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia (right), attend a meeting with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (not shown), at the Kremlin. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (left) and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right) sign a memorandum of understanding, at the Kremlin Palace. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, greets Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor (left), at the Kremlin. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (left) and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right) exchange documents after the signing of a memorandum of understanding, at the Kremlin Palace. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (left) and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, exchange documents after the signing of a memorandum of understanding, at the Kremlin. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (second left) greets Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor (left), at the Kremlin. They are seen with Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (right). Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (second left) and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (second right) sign a memorandum of understanding, at the Kremlin Palace. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (fourth left), meets Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (fifth right), at the Kremlin. Seen with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (left), Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (second left), Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor (third left), Sergey Lavrov Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia (third right) and Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia (right). Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right) greets Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (second left), at the Kremlin. Seen with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (left). Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (left), meets Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right), at the Kremlin. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Moscow, as the two discussed cooperation, and signed a new, wide-ranging, strategic partnership.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived in Moscow with an accompanying delegation on Thursday, before being met by Mr Putin at the Kremlin on Friday afternoon.

WAM, the UAE state news agency, reported that the two discussed cooperation between the two countries, as well as a variety of regional and international issues of mutual interest before signing a declaration of strategic partnership in the political, security, economic and cultural domains.

Speaking after the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed stressed the UAE’s desire to further cultivate relations between the two countries.

“Our relations are very important and we emphasise the keenness to develop them. We are also pleased with the rapid growth in trade exchange and we are confident that it will hit new heights after declaring the strategic partnership between the two countries."

He added that it was necessary to “maintain a continuous coordination with Russia on regional issue to ensure security and stability".

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in Russia on two-day official visit

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Vladimir Putin discuss relations between UAE and Russia

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Mr Putin said "The UAE has been a reliable partner over the years in the Middle East region and we will today sign a declaration on a strategic partnership as a further step on the path toward strengthening our relations.

"We have a large number of joint projects, joint interests. I do hope and believe that today's visit will contribute to strengthening our mutual relations," he added.

Also present at the talks were Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser, Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Reuters reported that the agreement included continued cooperation in the oil and gas industries. “This cooperation is aimed at providing balance and stability on the global oil market”, the declaration said.

Meanwhile, Russian state media, which had also seen the declaration, reported that the two called for the establishment of an international coalition to fight terrorism and extremism.

"The parties will strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defence, in particular, by intensifying consultations between the competent authorities of the two countries," the document added.

The meeting followed a phone call in March between Sheikh Mohammed and Mr Putin, in which the two discussed cooperation. Sheikh Mohammed previously visited Moscow in April of last year, where the two leaders discussed how to bring to an end the various conflicts unsettling the region.