Foreign media pointed out that Russian and Ukrainian representatives discussed the possibility of exchanging prisoners of war, and it was linked to the resumption of the export of Russian fertilizer raw material ammonia to Asia and Africa through Ukrainian pipelines.

The picture shows a Russian fertilizer factory testing ammonia production equipment.

(Bloomberg file photo)

[Central News Agency] Three people familiar with the matter pointed out that Russian and Ukrainian representatives discussed the possibility of exchanging prisoners of war in the United Arab Emirates last week, and it was linked to the resumption of the export of Russian fertilizer raw material ammonia to Asia and Africa through the Ukrainian pipeline.

The sources said the United Nations was not involved in the talks, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, despite its key role in negotiating an existing initiative to export Ukrainian agricultural products through Black Sea ports, Reuters reported.

Ammonia is a raw material for the production of fertilizers.

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It is pointed out that the purpose of the relevant talks is to resolve the remaining obstacles of the Black Sea grain export agreement extended last week, and to lift the export blockade of Ukraine and Russia to alleviate the global food shortage.

The sources asked not to be named so they could continue to discuss the sensitive issue.

Sources pointed out that representatives of the two countries went to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on the 17th to discuss allowing Russia to resume the export of ammonia gas, in exchange for the release of a large number of prisoners of war from the other side.

Reuters could not confirm how far the talks had progressed.

Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey, told Reuters: "The release of our prisoners of war is part of the negotiations to open up Russia's ammonia exports. We will of course try to achieve this goal, whatever the opportunity."

But Baodner said he did not know whether the two sides negotiated in the United Arab Emirates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Russian fertilizer was stuck at European ports and officials would work to lift the blockade and resume ammonia exports.

The UAE's foreign ministry, as well as the defense and foreign ministries of Russia and Ukraine did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

A U.N. spokesman declined to comment on whether the U.N. was involved.

The Russian ammonia will be exported via an existing pipeline to the Black Sea.

The pipeline is designed to move 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia a year from Russia's Volga region to the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi near Odesa, Ukraine, for shipment to international buyers.

Related operations have been suspended since February 24, when Russia sent troops to Ukraine.