President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he discussed the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The United Arab Emirates has played a key role in overseeing the return of Ukrainians deported to Russia during the nearly three-year war, many of whom are children, reported by Reuters.
Signing of economic agreement between UAE and Ukraine
“The UAE’s mediation saved many lives,” Zelensky wrote on X. “We are grateful for this important cooperation, and today we discussed how to continue it.” Zelensky had previously said that the top priority of his visit was to ensure that even more Ukrainians could return home from captivity.
He also announced the signing of an economic agreement between the two countries that liberalizes access to the UAE market for almost all Ukrainian goods. The comprehensive economic partnership covers goods, services, investment and digital trade, among other sectors, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svirydenko said on X. The partnership alone is expected to contribute about 0.10% to Ukraine’s GDP growth trajectory in the medium and long term.
Peaceful resolution of conflict in Ukraine
The highest growth rates are expected in transport, metallurgy and the food industry, Svirydenko added. During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and initiatives to mitigate its humanitarian impact. U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to begin talks to end the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the plans said on Saturday.