Qatari prime minister meets Russia's Putin in Moscow

Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, delivering a message from the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman began his visit to Russia on Wednesday and met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

He had discussed cooperation with Russia - particularly in the fields of food security, energy and trade.

The two premiers also addressed "peaceful ways to resolve" Russia's war with Ukraine.

The spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, told state news agency QNA that Doha reaffirmed its support for all international efforts to peacefully resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means.

رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الخارجية @MBA_AlThani_ يجتمع مع رئيس الوزراء الروسي#الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/uNNX8Kgw7F

— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) June 21, 2023

In comments to the Russian news agency Sputnik, the Russian PM said that Moscow considered Qatar as a key partner in the Middle East and that his country was looking forward to expanding cooperation with it.

Mishustin added that cooperation between Qatar and Russia contributes to achieving a balance between supply and demand in the global gas market.

"Qatar and Russia have developed a long-term strategic partnership in the energy sector with the Qatari Investment Promotion Agency being the largest shareholder in [Russian oil company] Rosneft," he said.

"The two countries also work together within the framework of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, headquartered in the Qatari capital, Doha," he added.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Qatar has been viewed as an alternative to Russia as a source of energy supplies for the West.