Leaders discuss trade, humanitarian ties, and conflicts in Gaza, Syria, Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who arrived in Russia on Thursday for his first official visit since 2018.Al Thani's plane touched down at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 government airport earlier in the day, where he was welcomed by an official delegation.
Following his arrival, the Qatari delegation headed to the Kremlin to discuss a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic relations, humanitarian collaboration, and several pressing international topics.
Opening the meeting held in the Kremlin, Putin praised the Russia-Qatar bilateral relations, noting that they have been strengthening over the past years.
"The intergovernmental commission in Doha was recently held, and I think it was very useful. Qatar is one of our priority partners in general, and even more so in the Middle East. We have a very long and good tradition of mutual relations," he said.
Qatar plays a pivotal role as a key partner of Russia's oil and gas giant Rosneft, investing nearly $1 billion into Russia's economy through the Russian Direct Investment Fund, both nations collaborate extensively within the Organization of Gas Exporting Countries, Putin noted.
"It would be highly valuable to address current flashpoints, recognizing Qatar's significant contributions to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Putin stressed.
The Russian president then lamented that Qatar's initiatives have gone unimplemented, resulting in continued civilian casualties in Palestine.
"Our stance mirrors yours -- a lasting settlement hinges on a UN-backed resolution, notably entailing the establishment of two viable states, primarily referencing the formation of a Palestinian state," he said.
Putin and Al Thani also discussed the situation in Syria.
"Above all, we are committed to upholding Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Furthermore, we wish to explore possibilities for assisting the Syrian populace, including humanitarian relief efforts," he concluded.
Given Qatar's involvement in facilitating humanitarian initiatives between Russia and Ukraine -- such as prisoner exchanges and the return of children -- the meeting is expected to include discussions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader international efforts aimed at supporting a resolution.
