ABU DHABI: Russia and Ukraine agreed on a fresh prisoner swap at “productive” Washington-mediated talks underway in Abu Dhabi, US envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday, stressing that more work lay ahead.
“Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners — the first such exchange in five months,” Witkoff said on social media.
“This outcome was achieved from peace talks that have been detailed and productive,” though “significant work remains,” he added in an X post.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia has agreed to resume prisoner of war exchanges with Ukraine.
Zelensky said that while broader efforts to end the war remained stalled, the talks had produced agreement on at least one humanitarian issue, with preparations underway for another exchange of prisoners.
“There will be a significant step,” Zelensky said during a briefing. “We expect an exchange of prisoners of war in the near future. The prisoners must be returned home.”
The negotiations, held in Abu Dhabi, brought together representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. A third round of talks is scheduled for Thursday, Zelensky said.
The agreement comes a week after the Ukrainian president accused Moscow of deliberately stalling POW exchanges, saying Russia viewed them as benefiting Kyiv more than itself.
“They do not feel that it gives them anything,” Zelensky said at the time. “But they should think about their own people, their military.”
The last confirmed exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on October 2, when both sides swapped 185 soldiers, with Moscow also releasing an additional 20 civilians.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council chief, Rustem Umerov, described Wednesday’s talks as “substantive and productive,” though no broader breakthrough on a ceasefire or political settlement was announced.
Fighting continues along multiple fronts despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
