The Emirati Foreign Ministry has announced the success of mediation efforts by the UAE regarding another Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange. It’s the fifth such deal this year, resulting in the release of 180 captives, according to a statement.
The Ministry emphasised that the success of the latest mediation is the outcome of the UAE leveraging its distinct partnerships. It expressed its appreciation to the governments of Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation to make the exchange process a success.
The UAE also affirmed its commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the years-long brutal conflict, stressing the need for dialogue, de-escalation, and diplomacy to resolve the fighting and mitigate the humanitarian repercussions resulting from the crisis.
Home is not just a word. Home means Ukraine. Today, another 90 of our people returned home from Russian captivity.
Warriors of the National Guard, the Navy, the Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense Forces, the Border Guard Service. Those who defended Mariupol. Those who… pic.twitter.com/VxiOSxB0hg
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 25, 2024
The Russia-Ukraine crisis erupted on February 24, 2022, as a number of Russian troops marched into Ukrainian territory. The UAE’s mediation efforts have been succeeding since the beginning of 2024 in completing four Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges.
In the fourth deal announced on May 31, Russia and Ukraine noted a release of 150 prisoners. The Russian Defence Ministry noted that 75 Russian servicemen had been exchanged for 75 Ukrainian troops, highlighting the UAE mediation efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X to announce the important outcome: “75 more of our people have returned to Ukraine … Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity.”
Exchange deal “reflection of the strong friendly relations”
In January 2024, Russia and Ukraine successfully exchanged 400 prisoners in one of the biggest deals since the outbreak of the conflict, facilitated by UAE mediation efforts. 248 prisoners returned to Russia and 230 Ukrainian prisoners returned home.
In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry described the massive exchange deal as a “reflection of the strong friendly relations” between the UAE and both Russia and Ukraine. The Gulf state expressed its appreciation to the governments of both countries for their cooperation.
“More than 200 of our soldiers and civilians have been returned from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy said on messaging app Telegram, posting a video of uniformed men celebrating. The Ukrainian president hailed the exchange deal as “good news”.
Sara is your reliable guide for the Gulf region's intricate developments. She is a part of The Gulf Independent's dedicated and dynamic team, digging deep into stories to give you a thorough update, going beyond the headlines. Interest: Sara has a keen interest in exploring unexplored events. She has an affinity for investigative journalism and showcasing essential stories in a unique light. Her favourite topics include geopolitics, human rights, business, migrants and other important categories. Education and Experience: Sara's affinity for news grew manifold as she received her degree in Media Studies from the Bayan College in Oman. Now, she lets her curiosity and years of experience take the front seat as she embarks on a mission to highlight the most relevant and important events.
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