UAE keen to cooperate with Russia on energy security, says UAE minister (updated)

Grand Gulf Energy

17/03/2022 09:53

(Adds quotes from press conference)
    DUBAI, March 17 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is keen
to cooperate with Russia on improving global energy security,
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in
Moscow on Thursday.
    Russia's invasion of Ukraine has drawn a raft of Western
sanctions and disrupted global energy markets, putting a
spotlight on Gulf energy exporters, such as the UAE and Saudi
Arabia, as consumers look for supplies to replace Russian oil.
    OPEC producers Saudi Arabia and the UAE have so far resisted
U.S. pleas to use their spare production capacity to help
contain oil prices, saying they are committed to an output pact
under the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia.
    "It is important to maintain the stability of energy and
food markets," the Emirati minister told a televised joint press
conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
    "We welcome all mediation efforts in the Ukraine crisis ...
the UAE is ready to engage with the parties to strengthen
opportunities for a peaceful resolution," Sheikh Abdullah said.
    The UAE, whose relations with security ally the United
States have been strained, has tried to walk a line between the
West and Russia, with which it has also deepened ties. It
abstained in a recent U.N. Security Council vote, vetoed by
Moscow, condemning the invasion. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2VD1TM
    Sheikh Abdullah said he would also discuss Iran, Syria and
Iraq during his talks in Moscow.
    Russia appeared this week to have backed off its previous
view that Western sanctions were an impediment to salvaging the
2015 nuclear pact between global powers and Iran just as a deal
appeared close at Vienna talks.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2VI1Y1
    While Gulf Arab states have voiced support for the talks,
they have also urged global powers to address regional concerns
over Iran's ballistic missiles programme and network of proxies,
including in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

 (Reporting by Yomna Ehabm in Cairo; Writing by Maher
Chmaytelli, Lina Najem and Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Alex
Richardson, Edmund Blair and Hugh Lawson)
 ((Maher.Chmaytelli@thomsonreuters.com;))