Saudi, Russian FMs Meet in Moscow Amid Yemen Tensions

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday for talks focused on the latest escalation in tensions between Riyadh and Yemen.

Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Prince Faisal described the recent surge in hostilities as part of a recurring pattern of provocation. He suggested that those behind the escalation were resorting to violence while under internal pressure, seeking to deflect attention from domestic difficulties.

"He has internal pressures and problems and wants to export them to the legitimate government and the Kingdom, but he will not succeed," the Saudi minister said.

Prince Faisal reiterated that the Kingdom remains open to diplomatic engagement. "We are not saying that the path to diplomacy is closed," he said, adding that Saudi Arabia will always support peaceful solutions. However, he made clear that Riyadh would not hesitate to defend itself, protect its interests, and support the security and stability of Yemen.

Lavrov, for his part, cautioned against military solutions to the crisis. He warned that continued fighting not only endangers civilians and civilian infrastructure but also risks disrupting global trade routes that pass through the Arabian Peninsula and its surrounding waters.

"We believe that it is unacceptable to try to solve these issues by military means," Lavrov said, stressing the wider economic consequences of instability in the region.

The meeting underscores ongoing international engagement over the Yemen file, even as ground-level tensions persist.