As world leaders get ready to hold discussions over Ukraine’s future, the country’s leader has paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Middle East nation last night for a summit with its ruler Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In a statement today, the UAE president said his country was “committed to backing all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution” to the war

Following the summit, Zelenskyy said the two nations had signed an “important economic agreement” that “liberalises access to the UAE market for nearly all Ukrainian goods”.

The UAE said the trade agreement would herald a “new era” between the two countries.

Zelenskyy also praised the UAE for its role in mediating prisoner swaps with Russia – which he said he hoped would continue.

It comes as European leaders hold talks in Paris today, while US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

Tusk: Poland will not send troops to Ukraine

Poland will not send its troops to Ukraine but will continue to give Kyiv support as it has up until now, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said.

Tusk made the comments before flying to an informal summit in Paris on Ukraine and European security.

For context: As we reported earlier, Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to put “our own troops on the ground if necessary” in Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia.

The prime minister said he was “ready and willing” to put British troops into a peacekeeping force in Ukraine and also that he was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security, by committing £3bn a year until 2030.

Zelenskyy won’t accept any peace deal without Ukrainian involvement

Ukraine’s president has poured cold water on suggestions that the US and Russia alone can end the war in his country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would “never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never”. 

He said it was vital that Ukrainian officials were involved before any peace agreement could be signed.

Zelenskyy added: “This is the war in Ukraine, against us, and it’s our human losses.”

He made the comments during a wide-ranging interview with Sky News’ US partner NBC. 

The Ukrainian leader also said he believed that at least 46,000 of the country’s troops had died in the war so far, as we reported earlier.