Russia and Ukraine Exchange 90 Prisoners of War with UAE as Intermediary

In a rare display of cooperation, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 90 prisoners of war each, marking the latest in a series of periodic swaps in their 28-month-old conflict. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) played a crucial role as an intermediary, facilitating the exchange and demonstrating its ability to maintain good relations with both sides.

The prisoner swap, which took place on Tuesday, comes on the heels of a similar exchange in May, when each side handed over 75 prisoners of war. The UAE's involvement in both instances highlights its commitment to mediating between Russia and Ukraine, despite maintaining a neutral stance on the conflict.

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, the prisoners brought home on Tuesday had faced mortal danger in captivity. The ministry stated that the Russian prisoners were able to return home "with the United Arab Emirates participating as an intermediary in a humanitarian capacity" . The freed Russian prisoners were flown to Moscow, where they underwent medical checks.

On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that most of the freed servicemen were privates and sergeants, and the swap was another step in the process of bringing all detainees home. He thanked the UAE for facilitating the exchange and pledged to press on with efforts to bring home those still being held .

The prisoners returning to Ukraine included soldiers who had defended the Azovstal steel mill in a three-month siege in 2022 and others taken prisoner when Russian forces briefly seized the defunct Chornobyl nuclear power station. Ukraine's parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said those returning from captivity would undergo medical checks and receive help in resuming their lives.

Why it Matters : The prisoner swap is a significant development in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as it demonstrates that both sides are willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation, despite the ongoing hostilities. The UAE's role as an intermediary highlights the importance of neutral mediators in facilitating communication and cooperation between conflicting parties. As the conflict continues to simmer, the prisoner swap offers a glimmer of hope that a peaceful resolution may be possible in the future.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry stated that its mediation had proved successful because it had leveraged "its distinct ties and partnership with both sides, including as a reliable mediator among both parties" . Since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, the UAE has maintained a neutral stance, while continuing to mediate between the two sides to exchange prisoners.

Key Takeaways :

• Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 90 prisoners of war each, marking the latest in a series of periodic swaps in their 28-month-old conflict.
• The United Arab Emirates played a crucial role as an intermediary, facilitating the exchange and demonstrating its ability to maintain good relations with both sides.
• The prisoner swap is a significant development in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as it demonstrates that both sides are willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation.
• The UAE's role as an intermediary highlights the importance of neutral mediators in facilitating communication and cooperation between conflicting parties.
• The prisoner swap offers a glimmer of hope that a peaceful resolution may be possible in the future, despite the ongoing hostilities.

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