UAE offers to mediate between Russia, Ukraine to facilitate potential POW swap: Report

As war between Russia and Ukraine shows sign of cessation, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday extended help to facilitate prisoner exchange between two warring countries. According to sources cited by Russian media network RIA vosti, proposal forwarded by Emirati is currently under review by both factions. Russia and Ukraine officials have to prepare a concrete list of POWs before slated swap is finalised.

This comes as both Russia and Ukraine have claimed to capture scores of troops since Russian Federation launched brutal invasion of Ukraine in February after months of palpable tension along east European borders. As quoted by RIA vosti, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Russia has detained more than 6,500 Ukrainian fighters since inception of war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy PM Iryan Vereschuk has flagged that Kyiv has conducted at least 11 rounds of prisoner exchanges in past months. A dozen of POWs were swapped in attempts, she had said.

Meanwhile, countries in conflict have repeatedly accused each or of committing atrocities against civilian population. While Kyiv has produced credible evidence of alleged war crimes by Russia, Moscow has voiced concerns over treatment of Russian "civilian hosts" in Ukrainian territory. Russia's top human rights official Tatyana Moskalkova also slammed International Red Cross for failing to provide solid information on Russian POWs held in Ukraine.

UAE growing ties with Moscow ahead of Biden's visit

Acceptance of UAE's proposal to Russia could lead to a potential discomfort between Emirati and US. ties have remained in frays after Abu Dhabi refrained from deploring Russia during a UN Security Council vote to condemn war on Ukraine. According to RIA vosti, country is also under constant criticism for harbouring Russian oligarchs in wake of stifling West-led sanctions, which has led or countries to close doors on m.

This comes as US President Joe Biden is supposed to take a trip to Middle East in coming month. During his trip, Biden is expected to meet UAE Premier Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to discuss "cooperation and important invation hubs." Biden could also meet Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who he once shunned as a "pariah" after brutal killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. visit comes at a time when Washington is looking for strategic ties to secure oil supply to global markets in order to provide some relief to consumers amid skyrocketing fuel prices in country following sanctions on Russia.

However, earlier this weekend, Biden insisted that trip to Saudi was t aiming for deals on energy or fuel, even though US has been pressuring OPEC+ to ramp up oil production. " commitments from Saudis don't relate to anything having to do with energy," he said. "It happens to be a larger meeting taking place in Saudi Arabia. That's reason I'm going. And it has to do with national security for m - for Israelis," MiddleEastEye reported.

(Im: AP)