Qatari Emir arrives in Moscow to meet Putin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in Moscow on Thursday, Russian state news agency TASS reported, for a visit that will include talks with President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and Middle East issues.
Qatar has made a series of attempts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, and has helped arrange the return of children from both countries who were separated from their parents during the war.
Russia and Qatar said this week that the leaders would discuss efforts to find a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to end the “bloodbath”, but has yet to achieve a breakthrough. Moscow has said it is not easy to agree a settlement.
The Kremlin said Putin’s talks with the Qatari emir would also focus on regional issues.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi told the TASS state news agency that discussions would touch on Ukraine, Syria, the Gaza Strip and energy such as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
