Putin, Egypt's Sisi discuss restart of flights, sign nuclear deal

CAIRO – Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday, agreeing to resume civilian flights which Moscow halted more than two years ago after militants bombed a Russian tourist jet over the Sinai.

Putin's latest visit to Cairo reflects the deepening ties between Russia and Egypt, the second largest recipient of US military aid after Israel and a strategic US partner in the Middle East because of its control of the Suez Canal.

Putin, who flew on to Turkey, briefly visited a Russian base in Syria before arriving in Egypt and ordered Russian forces to start withdrawing from Syria after a two-year military campaign there.