Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating Middle East conflict during separate telephone conversations with leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The Kremlin confirmed that Putin spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday as tensions intensified following military exchanges involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The renewed fighting comes after US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian-linked positions, prompting retaliatory action from Tehran. Iranian strikes reportedly hit locations across parts of the Gulf region, leading to temporary airspace closures and disruption at major aviation hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
According to a Kremlin readout, Putin and the UAE president stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and a return to political and diplomatic engagement. The Russian leader also indicated his readiness to relay the UAE’s concerns directly to Tehran and to assist in efforts aimed at stabilising the region.
In his discussion with the Qatari emir, both leaders expressed concern over the risk of further escalation and the possibility of other countries becoming drawn into the conflict.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned attacks on civilian targets, whether in Iran or in Arab states, and called for restraint from all parties.
Read also:
- UK snubs Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as concerns grow over Putin’s role
- Ukraine denies drone attack on Putin’s residence
- Putin rejects peace deal on Ukraine after US talks
Moscow has maintained close ties with Tehran, which remains a key ally and has supplied Russia with Shahed drones used in the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Russia has expanded diplomatic engagement with Gulf states, including the UAE and Qatar, as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the Middle East amid continued Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine conflict.
The UAE has played a visible mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine war, facilitating prisoner exchanges and hosting talks involving US, Russian and Ukrainian officials on proposals aimed at ending the fighting.
Putin’s latest diplomatic outreach highlights Russia’s effort to position itself as a stabilising actor in the Middle East, even as the conflict threatens broader regional security and global energy markets.
