Russia Ukraine Prisoner Swap Agreed In Abu Dhabi, But Talks End Without Breakthrough
The two sides agreed in principle on what the US calls the biggest prisoner release of the war. On land and security, they are still far apart.
ABU DHABI, Nov 12 – Russia and Ukraine agreed on Wednesday to a large prisoner exchange, as two days of talks led by the United States ended in Abu Dhabi. But there was no deal on the big issues, including land.
The Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap was agreed in principle. The two sides planned to settle the numbers on Thursday.
Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and one of the two United States envoys, said it would be the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners in the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said its scope would be significant.
A Russian military official, Alexander Zorin, told Russian state television it would be one of the biggest swaps since last year, when 1,000 soldiers from each side went home. He said it could take place in the next two or three weeks.
These were the first talks between the two countries in nine months. Wednesday’s session lasted just under two hours, after four hours of talks the day before.
Both sides said progress was made and that talks would continue. But beyond the prisoner deal, little else was announced.
Kushner stated that “the reality is there is no trust right now between the sides,” adding that this was to be expected after a war like this. He said the talks touched on land, which he described as the hardest issue to resolve, but called the meeting a good first step.
Ukraine has firmly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand that it hand over all of the eastern Donbas region in return for peace. With the talks stalled over land, the American side has tried to steer them toward security guarantees and postwar reconstruction.
Russia did not soften its stance. Its chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, told the state news agency TASS that “every inch” of Russian land would be returned to Russia. It was an apparent reference to Putin’s claim on the Donbas.
Medinsky said a peace deal was closer after the talks. But he said a lot depends on Ukraine, on the American position, and on whether Europe comes to its senses. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks useful.
Ukraine’s David Arakhamia said the talks were tough. He said the Russian team came with strict orders. Even so, he said the talks gave good momentum toward a deal by the end of the year.
Europe’s role remains a sore point.
Officials from Europe, the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were in Abu Dhabi and met the American and Ukrainian teams. But the Russian team refused to meet them.
Kushner said he and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff will fly to Moscow on Thursday to meet Putin. He said they would press for European partners to join the talks, and that Europe must be at the table. The two envoys then plan to fly to Ireland to meet Zelenskiy.
In Dublin, where he is attending a meeting of European leaders, Zelenskiy said he had seen a “change in temperature,” with Washington warming to a role for Europe.
“Ending this war without Europe’s participation would be unjust,” Zelenskiy said.
He said a lot would depend on how the American and Russian sides talk in Moscow. He said he believes Washington also wants a result this year.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Europeans could join the talks at some point. But he said their current statements show no wish to help move toward peace. Moscow objects to Europe sending money and weapons to Ukraine. As the Trump administration has cut back its own aid, Europe has become Kyiv’s main backer.
Ukraine had also hoped for progress on a truce for grain shipments in the Black Sea. But Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was still waiting for a Russian reply.
The fighting did not stop during the talks.
A Russian attack on a market in the Odesa region killed three people and injured 11, local officials said. Russia also hit six power substations in central Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person in the Belgorod region, local officials said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 627 Ukrainian drones overnight. A regional governor said drones started a fire at the port of Ust-Luga, a key hub for Russian oil exports, injuring three workers.
Russian forces hold about a fifth of Ukraine. The front line has barely moved this year.
