Russia and Ukraine Exchange 100 Prisoners Each with UAE Mediation

Russia and Ukraine have conducted an exchange of 100 prisoners of war (POWs) each, facilitated by the mediation efforts of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the exchange as a “success,” marking its third mediation endeavor between Moscow and Kyiv since December. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue and de-escalation, the Gulf nation urged for continued diplomatic efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed his country’s commitment to ongoing prisoner exchanges, emphasizing their importance for reconciliation.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence acknowledged the UAE’s “humanitarian mediation” in a post on Telegram.

Zelenskyy announced on social media that a total of 3,135 Ukrainian POWs have been liberated from Russian captivity.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the intelligence directorate at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, addressed concerns about the duration of the process, highlighting the significance of the outcomes achieved.

The prisoner exchange follows previous swaps, including one in January where 195 POWs were exchanged by each side. This exchange occurred following the crash of a Russian military transport plane in the Belgorod region, which Russia claimed was carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers.

The downing of the Il-76 transport plane led to accusations and denials between the two countries. Ukraine has demanded evidence of the plane’s passengers.

Despite ongoing tensions, periodic prisoner swaps have occurred via intermediaries since the conflict began nearly two years ago, albeit without substantial progress in peace talks.

The largest exchange, involving 478 captives, occurred on January 3, mediated by the UAE.

In an interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that defeating Russia in Ukraine was “impossible by definition.” He denied territorial ambitions across Europe and maintained that any military actions in neighboring countries would be in response to aggression.