UAE’s Role in Advancing Peace: Multiple Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchanges

 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a trusted humanitarian mediator in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Since 2025, the UAE has facilitated 17 prisoner exchange operations, allowing over 4,600 captives to return home. This marks one of the largest and most effective neutral mediations in modern diplomacy.

Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy, recently led a UAE delegation to Kyiv, where she was honored by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Order of Princess Olga, First Class. The recognition reflects growing confidence in the UAE’s efforts to support peace, humanitarian recovery, and post-war economic development.

The UAE’s humanitarian initiatives have already reached more than 1.2 million Ukrainians, providing vital aid including ambulances, power generators, and child rehabilitation programs. A recent $5 million partnership with the Olena Zelenska Foundation focuses on helping children and families recover from the trauma of war through safe schools and psychosocial care centers.

Beyond relief, the UAE and Ukraine are expanding cooperation through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2025. This agreement paves the way for collaboration in energy, digital infrastructure, and agriculture — laying the foundation for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

The upcoming “Ukraine Month in the UAE” in January 2026 will further symbolize the friendship and shared commitment between the two nations. Through its neutrality, compassion, and diplomacy, the UAE continues to demonstrate how peace and progress can go hand in hand.