Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held talks in Moscow on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prince Mohammed and the accompanying delegation met Putin at the Kremlin for talks that sources earlier in the day said would focus on bilateral cooperation and oil policy. In a cable to Putin marking the end of his visit, Prince Mohammed said talks with the Russian leader underscored the strength of Saudi-Russian ties and the desire to bolster them in all fields. Prior to his departure from Moscow, Prince Mohammed joined Putin and several global leaders to attend the opening ceremony and game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow. The opening match saw Russia thump Saudi Arabia 5-0. The Saudi royal had departed the Kingdom to Russia earlier on Thursday. He was received at the airport by Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Saudi military attache in Russia Mohammed al-Mutairi and several officials.