Ukraine and Russia have released 205 prisoners of war each in the latest exchange facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, bringing the total number of captives freed under UAE mediation to 7,101 across 23 rounds since the war began over four years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the transfer on X, framing it as the opening phase of a broader agreement announced last week by US President Donald Trump calling for both sides to release 1,000 prisoners.
“Today, warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service are returning from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This is the first stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange. Among those released are privates, sergeants and officers.”
He closed with a pledge to pursue the release of every remaining captive: “I thank all partners who help free Ukrainians from captivity. We will continue to fight for every single person who remains in captivity.”
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs credited cooperation from both governments for the outcome, saying the successful negotiation reflected the strength of the country’s diplomatic ties with Kyiv and Moscow alike. The ministry reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution to the conflict and reducing its humanitarian toll.
Abu Dhabi has positioned itself as a consistent back-channel between the warring parties. Earlier this year, it hosted US-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations aimed at moving the peace process forward.
