MOSCOW, December 5. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin plans to discuss interaction between Russia and Saudi Arabia in energy sector, including as part of OPEC+, at the upcoming talks in that country, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.
"We expect to substantively discuss cooperation in the energy field, including interaction within OPEC+. In general, I would say that fairly close Russian-Saudi coordination in this format is a reliable guarantee of maintaining a stable and predictable situation on the global oil market. I would say that we are quite active and cooperate fruitfully on this track," Ushakov said.
"As for Saudi Arabia, our relations are also developing very fruitfully and the personal connections of our president with both the king [Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [Al Saud] play a big role," Ushakov added.
He noted that cooperation in the energy sector will also be discussed at the negotiations during Putin’s upcoming working visit to the UAE on December 6. Russian companies Lukoil, Gazprom, Novatek, together with the national company of Abu Dhabi ADNOC, are implementing large joint projects.
According to Ushakov, the Russian delegation consists of representatives of business circles, including fuel and energy companies.
"We have in the delegation representatives of business circles who, so to speak, are directly involved in energy issues. As we plan, some of them will be involved in the negotiations," he said. In particular, according to Ushakov, the participation of Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov is expected.