US top diplomat Rubio visits UAE after key Russia-Ukraine talks
Rubio discusses security, economy, and global issues with UAE leaders.
US Top Diplomat Rubio Visits UAE After Key Talks with Russia on Ukraine War
ABU DHABI, Feb 20: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russia in the United Arab Emirates to wrap up his international tour. This was the highest level of US-Russian collaboration since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Rubio discussed security cooperation, economic ties and regional stability with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The meeting also covered important international issues such as artificial intelligence, the Gaza conflict, Syria, Lebanon and Red Sea security, State Department spokesman Tommy Bruce said.
The UAE, a key mediator in Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges and a supporter of Israel’s 2020 recognition under Trump’s Abraham Accords, reiterated its stance against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the need for Gaza’s reconstruction alongside a lasting two-state peace solution.
Rubio’s visit coincided with the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, where both Ukraine and Russia showcased military technology despite Western sanctions on Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian wealth continues to flow into Dubai’s real estate sector, and daily UAE-Moscow flights serve as a critical link for Russians evading conscription and for the Russian elite. Ukrainians have also sought refuge in the Emirates.
Rubio concluded his trip with a visit to Abu Dhabi’s Abrahamic Family House, a religious complex housing a mosque, synagogue, and Catholic church, symbolizing interfaith harmony.
