The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday the success of the mediation led by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for the release and exchange of two prisoners between the US and Russia. In a joint statement, the ministries said the success of the mediation efforts was a reflection of the mutual and solid friendship between their two countries and the US and Russia. They also highlighted the important role played by the leaderships of the two brotherly countries in promoting dialogue between all parties. The statement confirmed that Abu Dhabi received, on December 8, American citizen Brittney Griner by private plane from Moscow, after the Russian authorities released her, in conjunction with the reception of Russian citizen Victor Bout on a private plane from Washington, after the US authorities released him, in the presence of specialists from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Both America and Russia claimed their citizens, in preparation for transfer to their countries. The UAE and Saudi foreign ministries expressed the gratitude of their respective governments to the governments of the US and Russia for their cooperation and response, and for the joint mediation efforts made by the leaderships of the two countries.