Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Kremlin released a statement indicating that both leaders emphasized the necessity of pursuing political and diplomatic processes to develop peace agreements that consider the interests of all regional states. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in Russian-UAE trade and economic cooperation and agreed to maintain active bilateral contacts.

Putin extended gratitude to the UAE for its continued assistance in addressing humanitarian issues arising from the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. The official Emirati news agency WAM reported that the leaders reviewed various regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on these matters.

The conversation also covered recent developments in the Middle East and their significant repercussions on regional and international peace, security, international freedom of navigation, energy security, and the global economy, as noted by WAM. Regional tensions intensified after the US and Israel conducted strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran targeting Israel and US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire was established on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but subsequent talks in Islamabad failed to reach a permanent resolution. US President Donald Trump later extended the ceasefire indefinitely.