The State Duma called the issue of protecting Russians in the Middle East a priority.

Russia is ready to act as a negotiator in resolving the escalation in the Middle East, as the main issue for it is the safety of its own citizens who are trapped in the region. This was announced on Monday, March 2, by State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova.

"So far, we have a rather restrained position, although everyone is expressing indignation. Previously, we were involved as negotiators to resolve the situation with Iran, but it is not yet clear whether the United States is interested in this now," she said in an interview with Lenta.Ru .

The interlocutor of the publication suggested that such actions require agreements concluded at the level of the presidents of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Currently, for the country, as Zhurova emphasized, the fate of Russians who cannot fly to their homeland is of the greatest importance.

So, the deputy of the State Duma added that during the escalation there were "many unpleasant situations" with the transportation of her fellow citizens. She clarified that currently the majority of Russians with children remain in Arab countries.

"I know that the football players were at the training camp and were also blocked. Embassies had to work very actively in these dangerous areas, although who would have thought that something like this would happen in Dubai? So, in addition to mediating a settlement, our country is concerned about the safety of its citizens," she concluded.

Numbered Front: What is happening to Russians stranded in the Middle East

Organized tourists get extended hotel stays, but in the chaos of the first day, many had to pay for them themselves.

The airports of Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, have suspended their operations indefinitely due to the escalation of the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran. However, on March 2, the Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi sent the first plane since the beginning of the day. Later, check-in for 10 flights began at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Because of this, thousands of Russians remained abroad, in particular, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Relatives of Russians who cannot fly out of there told Izvestia that they have been waiting for their loved ones to return for the second day.

On March 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a telephone conversation for helping Russians who were unable to leave the Emirates due to the strikes on Iran.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.