Ursula von der Leyen will negotiate with UAE authorities to stop helping Russia

Western countries are concerned that more and more of their goods are entering Russia through the UAE. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will try to influence the Emirates.

Source. Bloomberg

Officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union began a series of visits to the UAE this week to persuade Abu Dhabi to stop supplying dual-use goods to Russia.

According to Bloomberg, Ursula von der Leyen will increase pressure on the UAE and demand a halt to the export of sanctioned products.

On Thursday, the head of the European Commission will meet with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, where he is likely to ask the sheikh to show closer and more constructive cooperation on this issue, the publication's interlocutors say.

At the first stage, the EU would like to get the UAE to agree to expand the exchange of trade data. This topic has already been raised by the special representative for sanctions, who recently visited the Emirates, the sources said.

So far, according to the EU, the UAE's response has been disappointing. Another issue that the bloc intends to clarify is that no sanctioned Russian goods are transported through the country to Europe, Bloomberg writes.

According to Trade Data Monitor estimates, from February 2022 to June 2023, the EU shipped dual-use technologies – semiconductors, radio navigation devices, etc. – to the UAE for $1.8 billion. Compared to the previous 17-month period, exports grew by 55%.

Background. As reported, Western countries intend to put pressure on the UAE to stop helping Russia circumvent sanctions. A delegation of Western officials has arrived in the UAE to hold talks.