DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said it has succeeded in mediating an exchange of 180 prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, Emirates News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The country’s foreign affairs ministry emphasized that the success of the latest mediation, the fifth since the beginning of this year, is the outcome of the UAE leveraging its distinct ties and partnership with both sides.
The ministry expressed its appreciation to the governments of Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation in making the exchange process a success.
It affirmed the UAE’s commitment to continuing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The ministry stressed the importance of resorting to dialogue, de-escalation, and diplomacy to resolve the conflict and mitigate the humanitarian repercussions resulting from it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday confirmed the return of 90 prisoners of war from Russian captivity.
Russia’s defense ministry also acknowledged the swap saying: “As a result of negotiations, 90 Russian prisoners of war who risked death in captivity are being returned from areas under Kyiv’s control.
“In exchange, 90 prisoners from the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over,” the ministry said.
