The story: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are hedging their stepped-up engagement with Turkey and the US with outreach to countries such as Greece and Russia. In their latest nod to Moscow amid the Ukraine war, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have opted to recognize Russia’s Victory Day—a commemoration of the Soviet Union’s defeat over Nazi Germany in 1945. Meanwhile, the UAE has hosted Greece’s premier—a rival of Turkey.

The coverage: The Saudi Press Agency has reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Victory Day. Of note, most European nations celebrate the end of World War II on May 8, while Russia and former Soviet states mark it on May 9...