Ukraine and Russia Agree Large-Scale Prisoner Exchange as Abu Dhabi Talks End

The update

Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner exchange after two days of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi ended on Wednesday. US envoy Jared Kushner said it would be the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, with final numbers to be decided on Thursday. Ukraine’s negotiator Rustem Umerov and Russia’s Vladimir Medinsky both confirmed the planned exchange. Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said negotiators were discussing 1,000 prisoners from each side, potentially rising to 1,500 each.

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Why it matters

The exchange is the only tangible outcome of the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in nine months. There was no breakthrough on a ceasefire or territory. Russia continues to insist that Ukraine withdraw from territory in the eastern Donbas still under Kyiv’s control, and Kushner said territorial issues would be the hardest. Medinsky said mutual understanding had been reached on some issues and more talks would be held.

What to watch

Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet President Vladimir Putin, then go to Dublin to meet Zelenskyy. Kushner said they hoped to finalise the prisoner numbers in Moscow and win Putin’s support for adding European countries to the format. European representatives held separate consultations in Abu Dhabi but did not take part in the trilateral talks.

Sources

• euronews.com — confirms the exchange agreement, the lack of a ceasefire breakthrough and the Moscow trip
• theguardian.com — confirms Medinsky’s remarks, the Dublin meeting and the push to involve Europe

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