Lavrov splash

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was time for the UAE and Russia to enhance cooperation across economic, technological and security fields.

He also said both countries shared many similar interests as he arrived in the UAE on Tuesday for a key visit.

A strategic partnership between the two was signed in 2018 - the first  deal of its kind between Moscow and a GCC member state  - and ties between both countries have strengthened since.

“We share common ground on a wide array of issues and value our strategic partnership,” said Mr Lavrov, who has served as Russia’s foreign minister since 2004.

The UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed welcomed his Russian peer to Abu Dhabi and both described their discussions as friendly and built on mutual trust.

The talks also touched on Iran, Syria, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the use of Russian Covid-19 vaccines.

“Sergey and I are very good friends who often compare notes not only on politics but on many other things and issues," Sheikh Abdullah said.

It was a day of high-level meetings and honours as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces awarded Mr Lavrov the prestigious Order of Union.

His deputy, Mikhail Bogdanov, was presented with the Order of Zayed II.

"It was an honour to present Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs with the UAE's Order of the Union, and his deputy Mikhail Bogdanov with the Order of Zayed II," Sheikh Mohamed said.

"These awards from the UAE President acknowledge their efforts to strengthen ties between our nations."

Turning to regional issues, Mr Lavrov said Russia welcomed the US drive towards rejoining the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran.

“There are growing voices that say more needs to be discussed, that Iran's missile programme needs to stop, that Iran’s regional activities need to stop. The Iran deal needs to be treated separately, we should not incorporate any other elements or concern no matter how grave they may be,” he said.

As Syria approaches 10 years of civil war, Sheikh Abdullah said it should return to the Arab fold, but the “Syrian regime and the Arab League should exert more efforts".

He added that the main obstacle to co-ordination with Syria was the US Caesar Act, the latest round of American sanctions imposed on Damascus.

Addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian foreign minister said Moscow hoped the UAE would use the Sputnik V vaccines.

They also touched on recent space co-operation, the UAE’s mission to Mars and bilateral trade.

Mr Lavrov also said Russia was standing by to work with the UAE to help solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Russian foreign minister is the highest ranking Russian government minister to visit the Emirates since 2019, when President Vladimir Putin travelled to Abu Dhabi.

Mr Putin touched down in Abu Dhabi that year to a royal welcome reserved for only the UAE’s most valued partners.

Mr Lavrov, meanwhile, is on a wider visit to the Middle East.