Putin to meet Qatar’s emir in Kazakhstan

MOSCOW, Oct 12 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Kazakhstan, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov advised reporters.

“This would be the first face-to-face assembly after the outbreak of the pandemic, so it is vitally necessary,” Ushakov mentioned. “The final time we met with the Emir was in Dushanbe in 2019.”

Discussions would concentrate on politics and commerce, he mentioned, including: “I might single out cooperation within the vitality market, cooperation between Russia and Qatar throughout the framework of the Fuel Exporting Nations Discussion board.”

Thursday’s scheduled assembly is an try to diffuse tensions between Russia and Qatar, which have grown for the reason that Ukraine disaster broke out earlier this 12 months, in response to a supply aware of the talks.

Main gas-exporter Qatar has sought a largely impartial stance on the battle however a number of strikes by the Gulf Arab state have just lately irked Moscow, the supply mentioned.

Sheikh Tamim known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday hours after explosions rocked a number of Ukrainian cities, together with the capital Kyiv. Qatar has criticised Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and was one among eight non-NATO international locations to hitch a NATO assembly earlier this 12 months, the supply mentioned.

Russia had proven its displeasure by interfering in key Qatar dossiers, the supply mentioned, citing as examples its supply of humanitarian support in Syria and its function in facilitating talks between world powers on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Qatar “wants cordial relations with Russia and others within the area,” in an effort to proceed to play a job as a battle mediator, the supply mentioned.

Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Andrew Mills in Doha; modifying by Man Faulconbridge and Jon Boyle

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