UAE Mediates Prisoner Exchange Between Russia, Ukraine
By The Media Line Staff
A prisoner swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates resulted in the exchange of 300 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners on Wednesday. In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the exchange was the 12th such deal mediated by the Emirates since the start of 2024, bringing the total number of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners released in UAE-sponsored deals to 2,883.
Both Russia and Ukraine released statements about the exchange in which they expressed support for the UAE’s role. The UAE statement said that the deal “reflects the respect and distinguished ties between the UAE and the two nations” as well as “the appreciation of both countries for the UAE’s role as a trusted mediator.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that some of the 150 released Ukrainians had been held captive for more than two years.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said that the released Russian prisoners had been transferred to Belarus, where they would receive medical and psychological treatment and have the opportunity to contact their families.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine says how many prisoners are being held, but the number is thought to be in the thousands. The UN has accused both Ukraine and Russia of torturing prisoners captured in the conflict between the two countries, which has been ongoing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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