400,000 People Evacuated Through Humanitarian Corridor in 2022 Ukraine-Russia Talks, Says Umerov

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently shared insights into the confidential negotiations between Ukraine and Russia during the early phases of the war.

According to The Washington Post, these back-channel discussions, which began in 2022, were facilitated by multiple international intermediaries and led to several key humanitarian and diplomatic achievements, such as the creation of a humanitarian corridor.

As Umerov revealed, this corridor was instrumental in the safe evacuation of nearly 400,000 people from Russian-occupied areas. Additionally, these talks enabled successful prisoner exchanges and the eventual restoration of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, helping to ease global food security concerns.

Umerov highlighted that these outcomes were the result of negotiations mediated by international partners, including the United Nations and Turkey.

Despite facing severe challenges and breaking down by March 2022, communication channels between Ukraine and Russia remained open throughout the year.

This allowed for humanitarian agreements, even when broader peace talks had collapsed. Umerov emphasized that the United States was kept informed and involved in these efforts, ensuring a coordinated approach.