Representatives from Russia and Ukraine met in United Arab Emirates (UAE) last A week to discuss the possibility of a prisoner-of-War swap that would be linked to appeal of Russian ammonia exports, which go to Asia and Africa, via Ukrainian pipeline, three sources with Knowledge of meeting said.
The sources said the talks are being mediated by the Gulf state and do not include the United Nations despite the UN’s central role role in Negotiation of the ongoing initiative to export agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Ammonia is used to make fertilizers.
However, the talks aim to clear remaining obstacles in The initiative extended last week and ease global Food shortages by liberalizing Ukrainian and Russian exports, they are added.
The sources asked not to be named in In order to discuss sensitive matters freely.
The Russian and Ukrainian representatives traveled to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi on November 17 where they discussed allowing Russia to resume ammonia exports in exchange for a prisoner Swap that will free up a large number of The sources said that the Ukrainian and Russian prisoners.
Reuters was not immediately able to determine what progress I was made in conversations.
“The release of our prisoners of Part war of Negotiation over Open Russian ammonia exports “adding” of course look for Ways to do it at any opportunity.” Bodnar said he was not aware of whether a meeting would take place took place in United Arab Emirates.
Putin said on Wed that Russian officials will work To open Russian fertilizer stuck in European ports and the resumption of ammonia exports.
The UAE Foreign Ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates of He said Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abu Dhabi remains Firmly committed help Keep the channels of Communication is open, encouraging dialogueAnd the support Diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine. “in times of conflict, our collective responsibility is to leave no stone unturned towards identifying and pursuing paths that lead to a peaceful and speedy resolution of Nusseibeh said in State campaign statement news WAM agency.
Russia and Ukraine defense and foreign ministries He did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
In response to a question whether the United Nations was involved in Spokesperson for conversations for The organization declined to me comment.
Western pressure
export of It would be Russian ammonia via Existing pipeline to the Black Sea.
was the pipeline designed to pump up to 2.5 million tons of ammonia per year From the Volga in Russia region To the port of Ukraine on the Black Sea of Pivdennyi, better known as Yuzhny in Russian, near Odessa for onwards shipment to me international buyers. she was shut down After Russia sent its forces to Ukraine on Feb 24.
export of Ammonia was not part of renewal of The UN-subsidized grain corridor deals with that restored Commercial shipping from Ukraine.
Last week, Rebekah Greenspan, Secretary General of United Nations agency United Nations conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), who Leads the negotiations on Fertilizer, she said, is optimistic that Russia and Ukraine can agree to terms for export of Russian ammonia via pipeline, without giving details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced publicly set Several conditions before allowing Russia to resume its ammonia exports via pipeline, including a prisoner Swap and reopen of Mykolaiv port in Black Sea.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine released it official Numbers on how many prisoners of The war they have been fighting since the Russian invasion in February. On October 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that since March, Russia had released A total of 1031 prisoners.
Russia and Ukraine have revealed few details about face-to-face meetings between representatives of the two countries countries after giving up of Ceasefire talks in The first A few weeks after Moscow invasion on Feb 24.
Abu Dhabi efforts follow in footsteps of Saudi Arabia, which obtained a diplomatic degree win securing freedom for Foreign fighters captured in Ukraine in September.
United Arab Emirates, like Saudi Arabia is a member of The OPEC + oil alliance, which includes Russia and its two countries also maintained good links with Moscow despite Western pressure help Isolation of Russia over The invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls”special military proces”.
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Moscow last month where discussed with President Vladimir Putin possibility of Abu Dhabi Broker for Ammonia deal, two of sources said.
Ukraine is a major producer of Cereals and oilseeds. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat and a major supplier of fertilizer for global markets.
Since July, Moscow has repeatedly said its shipments of Cereals and fertilizers, though not directly Targeted by penalties, restricted because penalties make it more difficult for Exporters to process payments or to obtain ship insurance.
