An “unprecedented” level of coziness with Moscow: Ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia are at an “unprecedented level,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on a visit to Riyadh yesterday. Putin also touched down in the UAE for talks.

Broad-based cooperation: “We share many interests and many files that we are working on together for the benefit of Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and the world as well,” Prince Mohammed said, according to state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Partners on regional stability: The Kingdom and Russia are working together to stabilize the region, Prince Mohammed said, according to Al Arabiya, adding that Saudi and Russia were working closely together on oil, trade and investment.

No public mention of oil: Neither leader spoke publicly about further oil production cuts, but Reuters quotes an unnamed Kremlin source as saying the two leaders did discuss continued “cooperation on oil prices” through OPEC+. The Kingdom has slashed production, while Russia has only ramped down exports.

But there could be more cuts: “In case the current actions are not enough, OPEC+ countries will take additional steps to avoid speculations and volatility,” Russia’s deputy prime minister said yesterday in remarks seen as a sign Russia is warming to further cuts, closing the gap with Saudi Arabia.

Next time in Moscow? Putin has invited Prince Mohamed to Moscow. There’s no indication whether the crown prince accepted the offer.

The visit dominates coverage of Saudi Arabia in the global press: Financial Times | WallStreet Journal | New York Times | Bloomberg. The broad theme: Putin is looking to “shore up” ties with Saudi and the UAE at the same time as Gulf countries are looking to diversify relations with other major global powers.

AND- The kingdom is pressing the US to exercise restraint in responding to attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthis against ships in the Red Sea, Reuters reported, citing two sources in the know. They said the kingdom’s move aims to avoid a further escalation in the region, adding that it was pleased with the way Washington was handling the crisis.

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