Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for helping negotiate a significant prisoner swap with the US. At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin credited the Crown Prince with organising the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War.
The US-Russia prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024, was a diplomatic milestone. The accord released 26 inmates, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, from Russian imprisonment and returned them to the US. The swap featured 24 prisoners: 16 from Russia returned to the West and 8 from the West to Russia.
Putin thanked Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince for his early involvement in the negotiations, which helped residents return home. The Russian leader also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for hosting the exchange and numerous Arab states for organising it.
This momentous transaction marks a new chapter in US-Russia ties and the growing significance of Middle Eastern countries in world diplomacy. This intricate agreement was a diplomatic success and highlights the necessity of global cooperation in high-stakes matters.
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