LEADERS from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia prepare to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin for a diplomatic visit this week.
Putin is expected to meet Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
His presidential aide made it clear that the Russian leader’s ‘negotiations will primarily be with the crown prince’.
Before traveling to Saudi Arabia, Putin will hold a ‘working visit’ in the UAE.
The oil-rich Gulf state is currently hosting the global climate summit in Dubai.
To recall, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for war crimes.
“Today, 17th of March 2023…into the Russia federation,” according to Piotr Hofmański, ICC President.
After the warrant was issued, Putin decided not to attend the three-day BRICS Summit in South Africa in August because the country would be obliged to arrest him upon arrival as it is a signatory to the international court’s treaty.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not signed the ICC’s founding treaty which means neither country would be forced to arrest him.