Putin says Russia has ‘very friendly’ relations with Saudi crown prince – World

President Vladimir Putin said Russia has "very friendly personal relations" with the Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

Putin was speaking in an interview with Arab stations, including Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, before his first visit to Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.

Tensions in the region are high after attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, which caused prices to rise and seizure of tankers in the Gulf.

He also said that Russia was studying new investments in Saudi Arabia. Russian company Sibur Holding was considering building a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia with an investment of more than $ 1 billion, Putin said Al arabiya.

& # 39; Russia will work with Saudi Arabia to stabilize the oil market & # 39;

Russia will work with Saudi Arabia against any "attempt to destabilize" the oil market, Putin said in the interview, on the eve of his visit to Riyadh.

"If someone believes that acts such as the seizure of tankers or attacks against oil infrastructure could somehow affect cooperation between Russia and our Arab friends … they are very wrong," Putin said.

"We will work absolutely with Saudi Arabia and our other partners and friends in the Arab world … to reduce to zero any attempt to destabilize the oil market," he said in an interview with Arabic-language news channels.

In recent years, Russia, which is not a member, has cooperated closely with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia.

The group has tried to limit the supply, which leads to a rebound in prices after the collapse of 2014-2015, which seriously affected the Russian economy.

"Our goal is to stabilize the situation in the global hydrocarbons market," Putin said.

Last month, Saudi Arabia, the United States and several European nations accused Iran of being behind the drone attacks against Saudi infrastructure.

Tehran denied their participation in the attacks, which were claimed by Yemen's Huthi rebels.

Putin said Russia was ready to participate in an investigation into the incidents. Moscow, which has "good relations with all the countries in the region" could also play a "positive role" in attempts to ease tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Putin said.