Demonstrating its significant role in international peace efforts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully mediated a sixth prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. According to the UAE News Agency (WAM), this latest swap involved the release of 190 prisoners, equally divided between the two sides.
This development underscores the UAE’s commitment to resolving conflicts through diplomacy and peaceful means. The total number of prisoners exchanged in the six UAE-mediated swaps now stands at 1,558.
Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 190 prisoners of war today, Wednesday, in an agreement facilitated by the UAE. Last week, Ukrainian media reported that Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, announced plans for this significant prisoner exchange, facilitated by the UAE.
This exchange is part of a series of prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict that has been raging for 27 months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the last exchange, which took place in June and was also mediated by the UAE, 180 captives were released.
This marks the sixth successful mediation by the UAE this year, leveraging its strong relationships with both nations to act as a trusted intermediary. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the Russian and Ukrainian governments for their cooperation in making the exchange possible. It reiterated the UAE’s commitment to promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and diplomacy as the primary means to resolve conflicts and mitigate humanitarian impacts.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This escalation followed years of tension and sporadic fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists had declared independence. The war has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with thousands of civilians killed, millions displaced, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The international community has been involved in providing aid and mediating peace efforts, although a lasting resolution has yet to be achieved. Prisoner exchanges have been one of the few areas where cooperation has been possible, often seen as confidence-building measures providing relief to the families of those captured. The involvement of third-party mediators, such as the UAE, has been crucial in facilitating these swaps.
This recent exchange adds to the UAE’s track record of mediation, including five previous exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and a significant prisoner swap between the United States and Russia in December 2022. The UAE’s role as a mediator reflects its strong diplomatic relationships with Russia and Ukraine, bolstered by regular high-level communications. These efforts have been pivotal in facilitating some of the largest prisoner exchanges since the onset of the conflict.
The UAE Foreign Ministry has reiterated the nation’s dedication to fostering a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. This stance is part of the UAE’s broader humanitarian approach to international conflicts, including support for those affected in the Arab world, notably in Gaza.
Following the outbreak of military operations in Gaza between Israel and Hamas in October, the UAE promptly initiated efforts to cease hostilities and delivered thousands of tons of aid to the Palestinian people.
This included sending 141 aid-laden aircraft to Gaza through El Arish International Airport, a cargo ship with 4,016 tons of humanitarian supplies, 121 trucks with medical and food supplies, and setting up a 160-bed field hospital as part of “Operation Gallant Knight 3,” directed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in early November.
In its continuous endeavor to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the UAE has been active in the Security Council and through various international organizations, advocating for a ceasefire and the provision of urgent medical and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
These consistent peace efforts highlight the UAE’s crucial role in mediating international conflicts and fostering humanitarian support across the globe.
