"Putin's Oil Talks Next Door: A Troll Move at COP28"

While the COP28 climate talks were taking place in Dubai, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a discreet visit to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, seemingly thumbing his nose at the global discussions on weaning the world off fossil fuels. This visit comes at a tense time for Russia's relations with oil-rich Gulf states, as Western sanctions and falling oil prices have forced Moscow to keep its crude flowing to cover its military costs and financial holes. Climate activists protested Putin's presence at COP28, while European officials criticized his visit, citing his condemnation by the UN and his wanted status for war crimes.