Abu Dhabi hosted another round of talks connected to the war in Ukraine this week, continuing a role the United Arab Emirates has played repeatedly over the past several years as a venue for discussions between Russia and Ukraine that neither side's capital could easily host.
The UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, built that role gradually. Since the early stages of the full scale war that began in 2022, Emirati officials have periodically facilitated prisoner exchanges and back channel conversations between Moscow and Kyiv, leveraging the country's diplomatic relationships with both governments as well as with the United States and European capitals. Dozens of prisoner swaps, some involving hundreds of soldiers on each side, have been arranged with UAE involvement since the war began.
That history is part of why Abu Dhabi, rather than a European capital, was again a setting for discussions this week, according to news reports circulating on Wednesday. Gulf states more broadly have positioned themselves as pragmatic intermediaries in the conflict, maintaining working relationships with Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European governments at a time when direct talks between the warring parties have been difficult to sustain.
Details of what was specifically discussed in this latest round were not fully confirmed in early reporting on Wednesday. Diplomatic talks tied to the war have covered a range of subjects over the past year, including prisoner and detainee exchanges, limited ceasefire arrangements in specific regions, and broader efforts by outside parties to find a framework for ending the fighting.
Readers should expect more detail to emerge in the coming days on what, if anything, was agreed in Abu Dhabi, and whether it leads to any concrete next steps.
Why does the UAE host these talks instead of a European country?
The UAE has maintained working diplomatic relationships with Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European governments, making it a venue acceptable to multiple sides.
Has the UAE done this before?
Yes, Emirati officials have helped arrange numerous prisoner exchanges and back channel contacts between Russia and Ukraine since the full scale war began in 2022.