Successful Emirati Mediations… A Glimmer of Hope Illuminates the Ukrainian Crisis
A successful mediation for the exchange of prisoners between Kiev and Moscow, the third within a month, crowns the continuous humanitarian and diplomatic efforts of the United Arab Emirates to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
An Emirati mediation succeeded on Thursday in achieving a prisoner exchange deal between Russia and Ukraine, bringing back 100 soldiers to Russia, in exchange for Kiev retrieving a similar number of its prisoners held in Moscow.
The success of the mediation comes a week after the success of a similar Emirati mediation that saw the return of 195 soldiers to Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing a similar number of Ukrainian prisoners. This success followed, approximately a month earlier, an Emirati mediation on January 3rd, which brought back 248 soldiers to Russia in exchange for releasing over 200 Ukrainian prisoners, one of the largest prisoner exchange operations between the two sides since the start of the crisis in February 2022.
Three successful Emirati mediations between Russia and Ukraine within about a month, carrying significant humanitarian, political, and diplomatic dimensions, offer a ray of hope towards resolving a crisis whose repercussions impact global security and stability, underscoring the growing stature of the United Arab Emirates as a key player and partner in regional and international peace initiatives, drawing from its civilizational message and historical legacy rooted in cooperation, humanitarian action, and the promotion of tolerance and brotherhood.
These achievements also embody the confidence of the crisis parties in the Emirati mediator and its wisdom and integrity, as expressed by the leaders of both countries on multiple occasions in thanking the Emirati leadership for its efforts in this crisis.
Mediation Details
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the repatriation of 100 Russian soldiers held in Ukraine through Emirati mediation.
In a statement, the ministry said: “As a result of negotiations, on February 8, 2024, 100 Russian military personnel, who were in mortal danger in captivity in territories controlled by the Kiev regime, were repatriated,” adding that in return, the same number of prisoners of war were sent to Kiev.
The Russian Ministry of Defense indicated that the United Arab Emirates had facilitated, in a humanitarian capacity, the prisoner exchange agreement between the two parties.
Continuous Efforts
This successful mediation crowns the continuous efforts of the Emirati leadership to resolve the Ukrainian crisis and has resulted in four prisoner exchange agreements between the two countries, occurring on:
- February 8, 2024: Russia’s retrieval of 100 of its prisoners of war, in exchange for Ukraine’s release of a similar number of Russian prisoners.
- January 31, 2024: The return of 195 soldiers to Russia, in exchange for Ukraine’s release of a similar number of Russian prisoners.
- January 3, 2024: Mediation resulting in the return of 248 soldiers to Russia, in exchange for Ukraine’s release of over 200 prisoners.
- February 4, 2023: Mediation resulting in the return of 63 “sensitive category” prisoners of war to Russia, in exchange for Ukraine’s release of 116 prisoners.
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UAE Mediator role in the exchange of 200 prisoners between Russia and Ukraine
Praises and Thanks
Efforts have earned continuous thanks and praise from the world and the crisis parties.
This new mediation comes just three days after telephone talks between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the strategic relations between the two friendly countries and ways to enhance them to serve their common interests were discussed.
During the current February 5th telephone call, the Russian president expressed his thanks and appreciation to the President of the United Arab Emirates for the success of the Emirati mediation regarding the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, which took place recently.
The two leaders also discussed several regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on them, with the Ukrainian crisis being at the forefront.
In this context, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the United Arab Emirates’ consistent approach to supporting peace and stability both regionally and internationally, and seeking political solutions to conflicts and crises through dialogue and diplomacy.
He also stressed the UAE’s commitment to supporting all initiatives and efforts aimed at mitigating the humanitarian repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis.
These talks followed discussions, about two weeks earlier, between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which the latter expressed his thanks and appreciation to the President of the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing humanitarian support his country provides to the Ukrainian people.
Humanitarian Efforts
The success of this mediation comes as the United Arab Emirates continues its efforts on multiple fronts and in various directions to de-escalate tensions between the two countries and work towards ending the crisis through dialogue.
Since the onset of the Ukrainian crisis, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has been leading efforts at multiple levels to push for a peaceful resolution to end the crisis, with the latest being his talks with the Russian president in Abu Dhabi a month ago.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has previously affirmed the UAE’s consistent approach to supporting peace and stability both regionally and internationally, and seeking political solutions to conflicts and crises, including the Ukrainian crisis, through de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.
The United Arab Emirates is ready to play any role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis and mitigating its humanitarian repercussions, emphasizing that “the United Arab Emirates will always be present” to calm the situation and support stability in this crisis.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan‘s efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis align with the principles of Vision 2050, which outline the economic, political, and developmental path of the United Arab Emirates for the next fifty years.
The tenth principle states that “calling for peace, negotiations, and dialogue to resolve all disputes is the cornerstone of the foreign policy of the United Arab Emirates, and seeking to strengthen regional and global peace and stability with regional and global partners is a fundamental driver of foreign policy.”
In parallel with its ongoing diplomatic and political efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, the United Arab Emirates is also active in humanitarian efforts by operating a humanitarian airlift to support Ukrainian refugees and those affected by the crisis.
As part of the latest efforts, the United Arab Emirates announced on December 20th the dispatch of an aid plane carrying 100 tons of power generators for civilians affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, to assist them in facing the harsh winter conditions.
The aid includes 1,640 household power generators of various capacities to provide energy to civilian homes.
It is worth noting that since the beginning of the crisis, the United Arab Emirates has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to affected civilians in Ukraine, including:
- Humanitarian aid worth $100 million.
- Launching an airlift involving the dispatch of 12 planes so far, carrying approximately 714 tons of humanitarian aid, basic food supplies, medical supplies, 2,520 power generators, 60 ambulances, 2,500 laptops, and 10,000 school bags.
- Sending a ship carrying 250 tons of humanitarian aid.
- Operating flights carrying humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries such as Poland, Moldova, and Bulgaria.
