UAE and the Ukraine Crisis: 15 Successful Mediations Crown Outstanding Peace Efforts

Prisoners Exchange

UAE and the Ukraine Crisis: 15 Successful Mediations Crown Outstanding Peace Efforts

As part of its latest mediation, the United Arab Emirates successfully facilitated a prisoner exchange deal between Russia and Ukraine involving 410 detainees from both sides.

This mediation follows a similar success just two weeks earlier, on April 19, when the UAE mediated the largest prisoner exchange between the two countries since the war began over three years ago. That deal included 538 prisoners from both sides.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the success of another prisoner exchange initiative, involving 205 Ukrainian and 205 Russian prisoners. The ministry expressed its gratitude to both countries for their cooperation, reflecting the trust and appreciation placed in the UAE’s consistent efforts to support peace initiatives.

With this latest success, the total number of UAE-mediated exchanges during the crisis now stands at 15. These efforts are rooted in the UAE’s strong relationships with both the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that both sides exchanged 205 prisoners each and noted that the UAE played a key mediating role. The released Russian prisoners were sent to Belarus for medical and psychological support.

As a result of this mediation, the total number of prisoners exchanged through UAE-brokered deals since the start of 2024 has reached 4,132—a significant diplomatic and humanitarian achievement.

These continuous successes underscore the UAE’s role not just as a neutral intermediary, but as a true architect of peace. The country’s human-centered diplomacy continues to break through the walls of conflict.

The latest exchange comes just two days ahead of a planned three-day truce between the two sides. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to mark Russia’s Victory Day on May 9.

This would be the second truce in less than a month, following a brief Easter ceasefire in April. While not fully observed, that truce led to a reduction in hostilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the aim of both the Easter and upcoming Victory Day ceasefires is to test Kyiv’s willingness to pursue a long-term peaceful resolution.

The UAE remains a beacon of hope for a political and diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis, aligning with broader efforts, including those reportedly led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, to initiate a truce and peace talks.

This mediation also follows a phone call earlier this month in which President Putin personally thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the UAE’s successful efforts in the largest prisoner exchange to date. Sheikh Mohammed expressed appreciation for Russia’s cooperation and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to pursuing humanitarian and peaceful resolutions.

The UAE’s consistent success in mediation efforts has solidified its role under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed as a key partner in international and regional peace initiatives. These efforts reflect the global community’s trust in the UAE’s leadership and its unwavering commitment to the values of compassion, tolerance, and peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on February 17, acknowledging the UAE’s ongoing diplomatic efforts and humanitarian focus in addressing the crisis.