UAE mediation efforts facilitate ninth Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange in 2024

The UAE has successfully mediated the ninth Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange this year, resulting in the release of 190 captives, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged through the Gulf state’s mediation efforts to 2,184.

In its statement, the Emirati foreign ministry expressed its appreciation to both countries for their cooperation and responsiveness to the UAE’s mediation endeavours – that have contributed to the success of the prisoner exchange despite multiple challenges.

UAE’s mediating successful Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges

Since the beginning of 2024, the UAE has been putting substantial efforts into mediation to facilitate nine Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges, in addition to a different exchange of a couple of prisoners among the US and Russia in December 2022.

The success of the mediation efforts reflect the trust of both Russia and Ukraine in the UAE, and their appreciation of the Gulf state’s role in supporting a diplomatic path to resolve the bloody crisis raging on for more than 2.5 years.

Russian troops marched into Ukraine in February 2022. The tense situation has been making global headlines ever since. Besides the prisoner exchanges, the UAE also seeks to mitigate humanitarian repercussions resulting from the fighting.

The Emirati foreign ministry emphasised that the success of the latest mediation demonstrates the cooperative and friendly relations Russia and Ukraine share ith the UAE. The statement noted the importance of dialogue and de-escalation.

UAE President to travel to Russia for BRICS Summit

The Russian defence ministry said that the returning service members have been undergoing medical checks in Belarus, reported The National. Ukraine did not immediately confirm or issue a public statement on the high-profile prisoner exchange.

The exchange comes ahead of the UAE President’s highly anticipated official visit to Russia on Monday. HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is going to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit. It’ll mark the UAE’s first participation in the Summit as a member of the group.