By BERNAMA / Pic by AFP

MOSCOW — The White House has made unsuccessful attempts to arrange phone conversations between US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan amid the US efforts to secure international support during a rise in oil prices due to sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

The Saudi Arabia and UAE leaders leaders declined requests from the United States to speak with Biden in recent weeks, showing more criticism of the US policy in the Gulf, Sputnik quoted The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report citing officials.

“There was some expectation of a phone call, but it didn’t happen,” a US official said about the planned conversation between Saudi Prince Mohammed and Biden.

As for the call between the US and UAE leaders, the Emirati Foreign Ministry said the conversation would be rescheduled.