Putin holds talks with Egyptian president

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Vladimir Putin discussed the Israel-Hamas truce, Syria, and collaborations like El Dabaa nuclear plant

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, the Kremlin press service announced on Tuesday.

The two leaders talked about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly in light of the recent agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, which includes a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops and the release of hostages. Putin commended Egypt’s mediation efforts, alongside those of other countries, for their role in facilitating the accord, according to the Kremlin statement.

The presidents also exchanged views on Syria, underscoring the importance of respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They emphasized the need to protect the rights of all Syrian citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations or ethnic and religious backgrounds.

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According to TASS, a spokesperson for the Egyptian president revealed that Sisi and Putin also addressed developments in Ukraine, though no detailed information was provided about this part of the conversation.

The leaders reviewed progress on significant collaborative initiatives, including the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, El Dabaa, and the establishment of a Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal.

Last January, Russian state nuclear power firm Rosatom started building the fourth power unit of El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt. The project, launched in 2017, is being financed jointly by Moscow and Cairo, while the Russian state company will supply nuclear fuel to the facility throughout its life cycle.

“The presidents had a comprehensive discussion of pertinent issues of bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy, agriculture, and culture, as well as the progress in significant joint projects,” the Kremlin press service stated.

READ MORE: Rosatom enhancing Africa’s energy security – Russian Foreign Ministry

During the 16th BRICS summit held in Kazan in October, Sisi referred to Egypt’s partnership with Russia as “strategic,” highlighting the depth of collaboration between the two nations across various sectors.