Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah made phone calls on Wednesday with his counterparts of the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden and Croatia.

During the talks, he reassured them the safety of the released prisoners from their respective countries. The prisoners, 10 in number, safely arrived in the Kingdom on board a plane after their release by Russia following the successful mediation efforts made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of an exchange of Prisoners of War (POWs) between Russia and Ukraine.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan held phone talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly; Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman.

During the phone calls, Prince Faisal reassured the safety of the released prisoners who were received by the Kingdom from the Russian side. The minister underscored the keenness of the Crown Prince on their safety. The foreign minister also made it clear that the relevant authorities in the Kingdom are working out the procedures to secure their departure to their respective countries as soon as possible.

For their part, the foreign ministers expressed their country’s appreciation for the efforts made by the Crown Prince in successfully mediating the release of the prisoners, who included five Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan and a Swedish national.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss hailed the release of the British nationals on Twitter as “hugely welcome news” after “months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”