MOSCOW, December 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold brief but important international meetings in the next day and a half, which, according to Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian head of state, will be a "powerful spurt" in Moscow's foreign policy and "a signal to the international community."
While talking to the media, the Kremlin spokesman recalled the Russian leader's statement at the ceremony of accepting credentials from foreign ambassadors on December 4 that Russia would pursue an active foreign policy, and that this activity would increase, and not decrease.
"It is indicative of what we are planning for December," Ushakov said. Among the plans for Putin's international schedule he mentioned visits to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on December 6, a working visit to Moscow by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on December 7, as well as a visit by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union on December 25-26 and the traditional informal pre-New Year's Eve meeting of CIS leaders in St. Petersburg.
"As for the visits to the United Arab Emirates and to Saudi Arabia and the reception of Raisi in Moscow, these are highly relevant and extremely important meetings," Ushakov said with certainty. He stressed that "they are important both from the point of view of the further development and strengthening of friendly ties with these three countries, and in connection with the aggravated situation in the Middle East in connection with the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation and the humanitarian catastrophe."
He also drew attention to the fact that "both the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iran have received invitations to join BRICS starting from 2024."
"In 2024, Russia will chair this association. It is quite logical to discuss the question of how the Russian presidency will ensure smooth connection of these three countries to all spheres of BRICS activities," the Russian leader's aide stated. "This activity and the association’s role in world affairs is undoubtedly increasing. This is obvious to one and all," he noted.
"This spurt is very important and very significant," Ushakov said about Putin's upcoming talks with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iran. "Such brief meetings our president is having are undoubtedly very important," the Kremlin official. "Three major international events in one day and a half. It’s a powerful spurt. It will be useful both in terms of the development of our relations with these three states and in terms of sending appropriate signals to the international community," Ushakov added.