WorldPosted at: Nov 11 2026 7:46PM


Russia, Ukraine agree to large-scale prisoner exchange post US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Nov 11 (UNI) Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner exchange following two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, but the talks ended without a breakthrough on a ceasefire or the territorial disputes underpinning the war.
The agreement was the most concrete outcome of the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in nine months. US envoy Jared Kushner announced the planned exchange on Wednesday, saying the final numbers would be determined on Thursday.
"One of the positives is we agreed that we're going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we're going to finalise the numbers tomorrow," Kushner said.
Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Medinsky, also confirmed the agreement, although neither side provided details of its timing or scale. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that negotiators had discussed an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side, potentially rising to 1,500 each.
The discussions marked the first direct negotiations between the two countries since an earlier round in Geneva in February failed to produce a breakthrough. During talks in Istanbul in May 2025, the sides had also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, despite making no progress towards a ceasefire.
Disagreements over territory and future security arrangements for Ukraine and Europe remained unresolved. Kyiv has insisted that Russia must halt its military operations before negotiations can move towards a broader European security framework.
Moscow, however, wants wider security questions addressed differently and continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from the parts of the eastern Donbas region still under its control.
Zelensky has maintained that territorial decisions must be taken at the level of the two countries' leaders. Russia has also rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, insisting on broader security arrangements before agreeing to stop the fighting.
Zelensky welcomed Washington's decision to involve European representatives in the discussions, arguing that Europe's security could not be negotiated without its participation.
European officials were present in Abu Dhabi for separate consultations with Ukrainian and US representatives but did not take part in the trilateral negotiations. Umerov said Kyiv's delegation would hold further discussions with European partners on Wednesday.
Medinsky said the Russian delegation had not communicated with the European representatives and questioned their role in the talks. He also said Moscow had received no concrete peace initiatives or proposals from European countries.
"We don't really understand in what capacity they are here," he told reporters, adding that it was unclear what there was to discuss with them.
Medinsky also criticised Europe's existing security framework, arguing that the war had exposed weaknesses in the continent's arrangements. He called for a new and fair security system that would not come at the expense of any country. Despite the disagreements, he said, negotiations with Ukraine would continue.
Washington has indicated that European countries should eventually be involved, particularly as discussions expand to the continent's future security arrangements.
Kushner said he and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before heading to Dublin for talks with Zelensky.
The latest Abu Dhabi round followed the earlier Geneva discussions in February, which ended in a stalemate. Washington is seeking to maintain diplomatic momentum, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said European partners should be included in future negotiations because of their role in securing any lasting settlement.
The Russian delegation also thanked the leadership of the UAE for organising the talks.
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Tags: #Russia# Ukraine agree to large-scale prisoner exchange post US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
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