Mar 3, 2022: According to a report by Reuters, the UAE announced that Ukraine nationals are eligible for visas on arrival in the Gulf Arab state, in an apparent reversal of a decision to suspend visa waivers to Ukrainians as thousands flee war in their country.

The UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement, “Concerning reports on the issuance of advance visas to Ukrainian nationals to enter the UAE, HE Faisal Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has announced that Ukrainian nationals continue to be eligible for visa on arrival to the UAE.”

Earlier, the Kyiv embassy in the UAE said Emirati authorities had temporarily suspended the waiver until Tuesday, a move that criticized the Western ally as Europe sought to repatriate refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, all six Gulf Arab states voted in favor of reprimanding Russia for the attack and calling on Moscow to withdraw its troops. It contradicts a UAE decision last week to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning the attack. A senior Emirati official defended the that decision, saying that siding with either party would only promote violence.

Some diplomats questioned the connection between the UAE’s non-participation and the consequent Russian approval of the Security Council’s vote to impose an arms embargo on Yemen’s Houthi group, which is fighting a Saudi-led coalition. That includes the United Arab Emirates, which has fired missiles and drones at the country.

The Gulf states have sought to strike a balance between Western allies and Russia, but face increasing calls for a global stand against Russian aggression, including by the United States, a key security ally.

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