Riyadh: As part of a prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia successfully mediated the release of ten prisoners from various nations on Wednesday.
The move, according to a statement from the Kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was made with Prince Mohammed's backing and was part of his ongoing efforts to support humanitarian initiatives in response to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
It was added that the Saudi crown prince, who has consistently collaborated with other nations to lessen the effects of the conflict, was successful in mediating the release of prisoners from Morocco, the US, UK, Sweden, and Croatia as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the ministry, "the pertinent Saudi authorities received and transferred them from Russia to the Kingdom and are facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries."
The ministry also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the governments of Russia and Ukraine for working with the Saudi government to support and react to the Saudi crown prince's efforts to free the detainees.
The Crown Prince's effective efforts at mediation, according to Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, show the Kingdom's dedication to international peace and security and its belief in the value of dialogue.
The Crown Prince's efforts to mediate the release of POWs from five countries were praised by the kingdom in a tweet, which read: "The Kingdom is grateful for the cooperation and good-will shown by Ukraine and Russia."
He continued by saying that the best way to resolve this conflict was through productive dialogue.
The release of five British prisoners and their transfer to Riyadh was welcomed by British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
"Hugely 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," the prime minister, who is currently in New York, tweeted.
She thanked Saudi Arabia and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for aiding in the release of the prisoners.
James Cleverly, the newly appointed British foreign minister, expressed his gratitude to President Zelensky and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts and assistance while expressing his joy over the safe return of five British citizens as well as five Ukrainian prisoners of war.
During a phone conversation with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, which was conducted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Crown Prince emphasised how concerned he was about ensuring the safety of the two American prisoners who had been transferred from Russia.
The Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde added on Twitter that the detained and healthy detainee is a Swedish national who is being held in Donetsk. She too thanked Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.
Andrej Plenkovic, the prime minister of Croatia, expressed gratitude to the Saudi and Ukrainian governments for their efforts and cooperation.
He added that they eagerly anticipate his return to Croatia in a tweet after speaking with the freed Croatian prisoner.
Aiden Aslin, a British detainee who had been sentenced to death in June after being captured by pro-Russian separatists, was identified on Twitter by British MP Robert Jenrick as a constituent.
The British detainees, according to Jenrick, were "on their way back to the UK," and Aslin's family "could finally be at peace," he added.
Early on Thursday, Bahrain praised the Saudi effort to mediate.
The action was praised by Bahrain's foreign ministry as "one of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's major diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives in ensuring the settlement of regional and international conflicts through diplomatic means, and supporting efforts to establish regional and global peace and stability."
The towns of Izyum and Kupiansk, as well as the area around Kharkiv, have been reclaimed by Ukraine after a counteroffensive was launched against Russia last week.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, issued a partial mobilisation order on Wednesday, and Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, announced that 300,000 reservists would be called up to guard the territory the Kremlin claims as its own.
Tuesday's meeting between Prince Mohammed and a Zelensky special envoy "affirmed the Kingdom's 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," according to a statement from Prince Mohammed.
Ukraine claims that 200 war prisoners were exchanged for one man