RIYADH: 海角直播鈥檚 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday held successful mediation sessions to release ten prisoners from various countries as part of a prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine.
The Kingdom鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the move was based on the support of Prince Mohammed and in continuation of his efforts to adopt humanitarian initiatives toward the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
The Saudi crown prince, who has continuously worked with global countries to mitigate the repercussions of the war, held successful mediations听in releasing prisoners from Morocco, the US, UK, Sweden, and Croatia, where their release was part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, it added.
鈥淭he relevant Saudi authorities received and transferred them from Russia to the Kingdom, and are facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries,鈥 the ministry added.
The ministry also expressed thanks and appreciation that the Russian and Ukrainian governments were able to cooperate with the Saudi government in facilitating and responding to the Saudi crown prince鈥檚 efforts to release the prisoners.
Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the Crown Prince鈥檚 successful mediation efforts demonstrates the Kingdom鈥檚 commitment to global peace and security, and its belief in the importance of dialogue.
He said in a tweet that 鈥淭he Kingdom is grateful for the cooperation and good-will shown by Ukraine and Russia towards the Crown Prince鈥檚 mediation efforts to secure the release of POW鈥檚 from five nations.鈥
He added that constructive dialogue is the best path forward to ending this conflict.
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British Prime Minister Liz Truss听welcomed the release and transfer to Riyadh of five UK prisoners.
The prime minister, who is in New York, tweeted: 鈥淗ugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.鈥
She thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 海角直播 for helping free the detainees.
Newly-appointed British foreign minister James Cleverly said he welcomed the safe return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and one civilian, including 5 British nationals, and said:听鈥淚'd like to express my gratitude to President听Zelensky and HRH Crown Prince of 海角直播 Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts and assistance.鈥
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who reassured听the US offical听of the safety of the two American prisoners received from Russia, and stressed听the Crown Prince's keenness on preserving their safety.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde also said on Twitter that the Swedish citizen, held in Donetsk, "has now been detained and is well". She, too,听thanked Ukraine and 海角直播.听
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic thanked Saudi and Ukrainian authorities for their efforts and cooperation.
He also said on Twitter that he spoke with the released Croatian prisoner, adding that they look forward to his return to Croatia.
British MP听Robert Jenrick said Twitter that one of the British detainees, Aiden Aslin, was one of his听constituents 鈥 Aslin had been sentenced to death in June after being captured by pro-Russian separatists.
Jenrick said the British detainees were 鈥渙n their way back to the UK鈥 and that Aslin鈥檚 family 鈥渃ould finally be at peace.鈥
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Bahrain early on Thursday welcomed听 the Saudi mediation effort.
Bahrain鈥檚 foreign ministry commended the move as 鈥渙ne of the leading diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud in ensuring the settlement of regional and international conflicts by diplomatic means, and supporting efforts to establish regional and global peace and stability.鈥
Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive and recaptured land taken by Russia in northeast and southern Ukraine in the past week, including the towns of Izyum and Kupiansk and around Kharkiv.
On Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization, with Russia鈥檚 Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu saying听300,000 reservists would be called up to protect what the Kremlin claims are its lands.
On Tuesday, Prince Mohammed met with a special envoy of听Zelensky, during which he 鈥渁ffirmed the Kingdom鈥檚听keenness and support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically and its continuation of its efforts to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian effects resulting from it.鈥
