Russia thanks UAE for hosting historic Ukraine peace talks

Russia has extended formal gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its role in hosting groundbreaking diplomatic talks aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine. The appreciation was conveyed by a senior Russian envoy in a meeting with UAE leadership, highlighting the Emirates' growing role as a neutral mediator in complex international conflicts.

Official thanks from the Kremlin

Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's presidential envoy for international economic cooperation, met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. According to the UAE's state news agency WAM, Dmitriev relayed personal greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed Moscow's thanks for the Emirates' "hosting of the talks." The discussions are described as part of ongoing efforts to "promote dialogue and find diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine crisis," signaling a rare moment of public Russian approval for a multilateral diplomatic initiative concerning the war.

A landmark diplomatic forum

The expression of thanks follows the conclusion of the first official trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, which were held in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday. This forum marked a significant escalation in diplomatic engagement, bringing the primary adversaries and a key backer to the same table. Both Kyiv and Washington have publicly welcomed the talks and confirmed that conversations are set to resume next week, indicating that the dialogue has established a tangible, if fragile, process forward.

Broadening UAE-Russia bilateral ties

The meeting between Dmitriev and the UAE president also covered the broader bilateral relationship between Moscow and Abu Dhabi. Discussions focused on "opportunities to further develop ties across economic, investment and development sectors," WAM reported. This underscores how the UAE maintains active, multifaceted partnerships with various global powers, even those in conflict with each other. The successful hosting of such sensitive talks enhances the UAE's international prestige as a capable diplomatic hub, a role similarly pursued by other non-aligned nations like Türkiye, which also advocates for and facilitates dialogue to resolve international disputes.