RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), making a rare foreign trip as Moscow seeks to reassert itself on the world stage.

It is only the third trip the Russian leader has made outside the former Soviet Union since his invasion of Ukraine, following visits to Iran and China, and comes as Moscow seeks to strengthen its influence in the Middle East.

Putin was seen greeting the country’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, before the two briefly sat down for a televised conversation.

“Nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations,” Putin told Prince Mohammed, inviting the Saudi king to visit Moscow.

“It is very important for all of us to exchange information and assessments with you about what is happening in the region. Our meeting is certainly timely,” Putin said.

Prince Mohammed said bilateral cooperation had “helped to reduce many tensions in the Middle East and contributed to improving security” – and would continue to do so in the future.

The Kremlin said ahead of the meeting that the two would discuss oil markets and ways to promote de-escalation in the Gaza war.

Since March, Putin has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes related to the invasion of Ukraine.

He missed the BRICS summit in August in South Africa, where the ICC is recognized, so as not to cause a “political show” and missed the G20 summit in India in September.

But neither the United Arab Emirates nor Saudi Arabia signed the ICC’s founding treaty and are therefore not obliged to arrest him.

“RELATED RELATIONSHIPS”

The Russian leader was earlier welcomed with a full cavalry escort and motorcade to the United Arab Emirates, where he met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

A national air show team drew a Russian flag with colored fumes in the sky.

“Thanks to your attitude, our relations have reached an unprecedented level today,” Putin told his counterpart at the presidential palace, saying the UAE was “Russia’s most important trading partner in the Arab world.”

According to the Kremlin, bilateral trade reached a record $9 billion last year, and Putin said “a number of projects” were underway in the oil and gas sector.

The United Arab Emirates is currently hosting the UN COP28 climate talks, but the Kremlin did not say whether Putin attended any relevant events.

Putin will next host Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for talks in Moscow on Thursday as the two countries strengthen economic and military ties in the face of Western sanctions.

With Moscow largely adapting to Western sanctions thanks to rising oil revenues and its military repelling a Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent months, analysts suspect Putin senses a recovery in fortunes.

“Putin has certainly spoken more confidently now than at any time since the start of the war,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.