It is reported that Putin hosted a dinner for President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at his residence, where they are set to hold formal discussions on Monday covering both the Middle East violence and the war in Ukraine.
Putin described the situation in the Middle East as "complicated," noting Israel's military operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon. He praised the UAE president for his "personal relations" that have helped both nations resolve various challenges, particularly highlighting the UAE's role in arranging prisoner exchanges during the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The most recent exchange took place last week, with each side returning 95 prisoners of war. The UAE noted that it had taken part in nine such mediation efforts since the conflict began over two and a half years ago.
