Moscow

Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday emphasised the urgent need to de-escalate tensions in West Asia, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and stronger diplomatic engagement to resolve the ongoing conflict.

According to the Kremlin, the two leaders held a phone conversation in which they reviewed developments across the Middle East in detail. Both sides voiced concern over the worsening security and political situation, highlighting the rising number of civilian casualties and damage to key infrastructure.

They stressed that a sustainable resolution would require intensified political dialogue while taking into account the interests of all parties involved.

The discussion also touched upon energy concerns, particularly the disruption caused by instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperation within the OPEC Plus framework to maintain stability in international energy markets.

The current crisis follows escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have significantly impacted the Gulf region and global energy supply chains.

Earlier this week, Putin also discussed the situation with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Moscow, underscoring the broad international concern over the conflict.

Reiterating Russia’s position, Putin expressed hope for a swift resolution and signalled Moscow’s readiness to contribute to stabilisation efforts. He also noted that Donald Trump had recently addressed the issue.

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Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow is open to playing a mediating role, provided all parties involved agree to such an initiative.