Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday called for a coalition to combat terrorism in the Middle East.
Opening a meeting with Putin in Moscow, Sisi said “the Egyptian people” are hoping for broader ties with Russia in all areas, particularly in fighting terrorism in the Middle East.
Putin told reporters after the talks that regional powers should join their efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.
“(We) have underscored the vital importance of setting a counter-terrorism front to include key international players of the region including Syria,” he said.
The news comes as leaders from Arab allies the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan traveled this week to the Russian capital Moscow, after receiving an invitation from Putin.
The UAE capital of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Armed Forces commander Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the Egyptian president were attending an air show, as Russia seeks to grow its civil and military aviation sectors.
On Tuesday, Putin said that the show would see the signing of a series of “serious agreements.”
During the visits, international issues featured heavily in high-level meetings on the sidelines between the Russian leader and his Arab counterparts.
On Tuesday, King Abdullah of Jordan told Putin that Moscow had a vital role to play bringing together rival sides in Syria to seek a solution to the ongoing war.
