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Putin thanks Saudi Arabia's MbS for assisting significant US-Russia detainee swap

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that he was grateful to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for assisting to arrange the greatest U.S.-Russian prisoner swap since the Cold War.

U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan went back to the United States on Aug. 1, hours after being freed from Russian detention in the

most significant detainee exchange between the 2 nations considering that the Cold War

.

The swap deal, worked on in secrecy for more than a. year, involved 24 detainees - 16 moving from Russia to the West. and 8 returned to Russia from the West.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince played an active function in. the preliminary phases of this work. We are very grateful to him, as. it resulted in the return of our residents to the homeland,. Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum.

Putin also thanked Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for. providing the venue for the exchange. He discussed that numerous. other Arab nations facilitated the swap however did not name them.

Putin and Mohammed bin Salman, likewise referred to as MbS, have. fostered a close personal relationship since 2015 when the. prince visited Russia for the first time.

The relationship has assisted the leaders of the world's. two most significant oil exporters conclude and maintain the OPEC+ energy. offer.

(source: Reuters)