Putin praises President El-Sisi's efforts to resolve Middle East crises

CAIRO – 4 June 2026: Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on Thursday that relations between Russia and Egypt are based on mutual trust, continuous political dialogue, and coordination on international issues.

He emphasized Moscow's appreciation for the role played by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in efforts to resolve crises in the Middle East, including the Iranian and Palestinian issues.

Putin added that President El-Sisi contributes to efforts aimed at achieving a just resolution to the Palestinian issue, stressing that the fundamental solution to the conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Russian president highlighted the ongoing communication and consultations between himself and President El-Sisi on various regional and international issues, affirming that Moscow takes Egypt's perspective into account. He also expressed his gratitude to the Egyptian president for his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.

Putin described Egypt as one of Russia's most important partners in the Middle East.

He noted that Russia is working to establish a Russian industrial zone in Egypt and is making progress on the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project. His remarks came during a meeting with representatives of international news agencies at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, attended by journalists and media executives from leading global organizations.

The Russian president said the first power units at the nuclear plant are expected to be commissioned in 2027 or 2028 as part of the strategic energy partnership between the two countries.

Putin emphasized the strength of Russian-Egyptian relations, praising President El-Sisi and describing him as a "close friend" of Russia. He pointed to the strong and growing ties between the two countries at various levels, noting that trade between Moscow and Cairo continues to expand.

In November 2015, Egypt and Russia signed an agreement to construct the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, financed through a $25 billion Russian loan. The agreement entered into force in December 2017. Under the deal, Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, serves as the main engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor and is responsible for supplying nuclear fuel as well as providing operational and maintenance support.

Rosatom is also responsible for training Egyptian operational and maintenance personnel and providing support during the plant's first 10 years of operation.

The El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project involves the construction of four 1,200-megawatt pressurized water reactor units equipped with advanced Russian-designed VVER-1200 (AES-2006) Generation III+ reactors.

These reactors represent some of the latest nuclear technologies and are already operating successfully at several reference plants.

The El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Egypt's first nuclear energy facility, is located in the city of El Dabaa in Matrouh Governorate on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Cairo. The first reactor, with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2028, while the entire project is scheduled for completion by 2030. The plant is expected to play a significant role in meeting Egypt's growing domestic and industrial energy needs.