Ukraine Independent Day 2024: UAE mediation to facilitate 7th Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange

Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 115 prisoners each on Saturday after UAE’s successful mediatory efforts, according to an Emirati official. It could be the seventh such exchange the UAE has facilitated since the beginning of 2024.

The UAE official spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Reuters. The latest development is also the first such prisoner exchange since Ukraine launched its offensive inside Russia this month. The Russian military launched a special operation in Ukraine in 2022.

UAE mediated the release of 1,788 prisoners so far

UAE officials have highlighted that their ability to talk to a range of international actors means that they can effectively promote cooperation and security. Including those set to be released today, the Gulf state has mediated the release of 1,788 prisoners so far.

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military launched a surprise attack into Russia’s Kursk region. Kyiv has said it has carved out a buffer zone in an area that Russia has used to pound targets in Ukraine, according to the report in Reuters.

The brutal Russia-Ukraine crisis erupted on February 24, 2022, as a number of Russian soldiers marched into their neighbouring territory. In the sixth exchange on July 17, the UAE mediated the release of 190 soldiers. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy thanked the Gulf state at the time.

Продовжуємо повертати наших людей додому. Ще 95 захисників звільнені з російського полону. Це воїни Збройних Сил України, Національної гвардії, прикордонники.

Вдячний нашій команді, яка займається обмінами, та Об’єднаним Арабським Еміратам – за посередництво в цьому звільненні.… pic.twitter.com/bG3HMPFklM

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 17, 2024

UAE’s status as a trusted mediator on international stage

In the previous exchanges, the UAE government expressed its appreciation to Russian and Ukrainian officials for their operation as the July deal came less than a month after the previous one. The earlier exchanges happened in May, February and 2 times in January.

The UAE remains committed to continuing all efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The multiple prisoner exchanges this year reflect the status of the Emirates as a trusted partner on the international stage.