Moscow said on Wednesday that it greatly appreciates dealing with Saudi Arabia within the framework of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and hopes that US President Joe Biden's visit to the region will not spoil the kingdom's relations with Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia, the second largest oil exporter in the world after Saudi Arabia and the largest exporter of natural gas, greatly values cooperation with Saudi Arabia within the framework of the "OPEC Plus" group (OPEC +), which includes major oil producers in the world.
"We highly value our relations and dealings with Riyadh, and we certainly hope that building and developing relations between Riyadh and other world capitals will not be directed in any way against us," he said in a call with reporters.
And White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, last Monday, that Biden will support the cause of increasing production of OPEC countries in order to reduce gasoline prices when he meets with Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia.
Last Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that the continuation of sanctions imposed on his country - due to the conflict with Ukraine - threatens to disastrously raise energy prices for consumers around the world.
Regarding Putin's planned visit to Iran, Peskov said that the Russian President will not discuss with his Iranian counterpart the purchase of drones.
And the White House said - yesterday, Tuesday - that its intelligence information indicates that Tehran will provide Moscow with hundreds of drones, to help Russian forces in confronting the resistance shown by the Ukrainian army in the east of the country.