Sheikh Mohamed and Zelenskyy discuss economic partnership and mediation efforts

Economic Partnership Agreement

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the leaders discussed strengthening cooperation across various sectors and reviewed developments in the Ukraine crisis and its humanitarian impact.

The conversation focused on advancing bilateral ties under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two nations, which entered into force on July 1, 2026. The agreement, signed in Abu Dhabi on February 17, 2025, and ratified by Ukraine's parliament on February 26, 2026, represents the first comprehensive economic partnership between Ukraine and any Gulf country.

Under the agreement, 99 percent of Ukrainian imports of UAE goods and 97 percent of Ukrainian exports to the UAE are exempted from customs duties with immediate effect. Economic projections indicate the partnership will contribute $369 million to the UAE's GDP and $874 million to Ukraine's GDP by 2031.

The agreement aims to revitalize trade flows between the two countries. Non-oil trade reached $346.8 million in 2025, with the CEPA targeting growth toward levels that previously peaked at $904.4 million in 2021.

Diplomatic mediation continues

President Zelenskyy thanked Sheikh Mohamed for the UAE's continued diplomatic efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. As of June 26, 2026, the UAE has facilitated 25 prisoner exchange mediations, resulting in 7,791 total prisoners exchanged through UAE-mediated efforts since the conflict began.

The UAE has also positioned itself as a neutral diplomatic venue by hosting two rounds of trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi, demonstrating its broader role in conflict resolution efforts.

Humanitarian focus

The leaders emphasized the UAE's sustained focus on addressing the humanitarian aspects of the crisis. An estimated 10.8 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance in 2026, with over 3.7 million people internally displaced and 5.3 million refugees living outside the country.

Sheikh Mohamed and President Zelenskyy also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, underscoring the importance of intensifying efforts to advance regional and global peace, security and stability in support of the wellbeing and development of peoples around the world.