Putin, Saudi crown prince discuss Mideast crisis, civilian toll

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation on Thursday to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East, the Kremlin confirmed. The two leaders conducted a “thorough review” of issues related to the deteriorating situation, expressing “serious concern over the degradation of the military-political situation in the region, civilian casualties, and the destruction of strategically important infrastructure,” according to a Kremlin statement.

Call for diplomacy and OPEC+ coordination

Both Putin and the crown prince called for a swift end to hostilities and a ramp-up of diplomatic efforts aimed at a long-term resolution that respects the legitimate interests of all parties involved. The Kremlin noted that the ongoing crisis has disrupted energy production and transportation, “having a negative impact on global energy security.” In response, the two leaders emphasized the importance of continued coordination within the OPEC+ framework, highlighting the joint role of Moscow and Riyadh in stabilizing world oil markets amid supply fears triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Bilateral ties and Türkiye’s position

The statement also expressed “satisfaction with the achieved high level of Russian-Saudi multifaceted cooperation, which is developing in a friendly and mutually beneficial manner.” For Türkiye, which maintains close ties with both Russia and Saudi Arabia while navigating its own energy security and regional diplomacy, the Putin-bin Salman call signals a unified front among major oil producers to prevent market chaos. Ankara has repeatedly urged all parties to return to the negotiating table, warning that continued fighting in Iran and the Gulf risks destabilizing the entire region and triggering a global energy shock.