Russia sends 10 POWs to Saudi Arabia as part of exchange with Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Sep 2022 20:57
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Among the transferred prisoners is one from the US, another from the UK, while others hailed from Morocco, Sweden, and Croatia.

Russia releases ten POWs, transfers them to Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday stating that Russia transferred ten prisoners of war to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

According to the statement, these efforts are aimed to "facilitate procedures for their safe return to their respective countries."

Among the transferred prisoners is one from the US, another from the UK, while others hailed from Morocco, Sweden, and Croatia.

Since the conflict with Ukraine began in February, tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US have been on the rise.

Although Saudi Arabia clearly aligned itself on the US' side, when it voted in favor of an early UN resolution to denounce Russia's operation and demand that Moscow withdraw troops, the Kingdom has also been subject to overwhelming pressure from the US to increase its oil production.

The US demanded so, as stated in Biden's recent trip to Saudi Arabia because it sought a way to ease the energy crisis resulting from the war to which the EU has severely felt its effect.

Instead of complying with US commands, Saudi Arabia chose to pursue its operations within the OPEC+ oil cartel it jointly leads with Russia.

Right after Biden had left Saudi Arabia, the Kremlin said in a statement at the time that Russian President Vladimir Putin and MBS have agreed on the "importance of reinforcing cooperation in OPEC+."

Both leaders agreed that this cooperation helped "to maintain the needed balance and stability on the global energy market," the Kremlin statement said.

On September 5, the cartel agreed to modestly cut oil production by 100,000 barrels a day, rolling back the increase they approved a month ago. The move was aimed at lifting prices that have tumbled due to recession fears.

Although the statement said Russia transferred the ten inmates, it did not specify when they would be sent back to their home countries.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US television that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to swap 200 prisoners in one of the largest exchanges of the seven-month war.

Erdogan referred to the people being exchanged as "hostages" and made no mention of how many there were from each side but did not add further details about the swap.

On Tuesday, MBS met with a Ukrainian diplomat during which both "affirmed the kingdom's keenness and support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically and the continuation of its efforts to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian effects resulting from it," Saudi media reported.