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Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large exchange of prisoners of war during two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. However, the discussions concluded without a major breakthrough on ending Moscow’s nearly five-year-old full-scale invasion.
U.S.-Mediate Negotiations in Abu Dhabi
The session marked the first meeting in nine months between the delegations regarding the war, which analysts and humanitarian organizations state has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians. The talks lasted just under two hours Wednesday, following a four-hour session the previous day. Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, stated that the sides agreed to the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, with final numbers to be determined.
Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, and Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s contingent, confirmed the planned exchange, while Medinsky noted the agreement was in principle. Alexander Zorin, a deputy chief of the General Staff’s information department who attended the sessions, told Russian state TV that it would be one of the largest swaps following the return of 1,000 soldiers last year, adding that the exchange could take place within two or three weeks.
Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff planned to travel to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, followed by a flight to Dublin, Ireland, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Medinsky expressed a feeling that the meeting helped Moscow and Kyiv move closer to peace, while Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as substantive and quite useful.
Discussions on Security and European Involvement
Key hurdles in the negotiations remain postwar security guarantees for both countries, the fate of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, and the role European countries will play in a settlement. Umerov stated that Kyiv’s delegation was expected to meet later Wednesday with representatives of European governments, the European Union, and NATO who were present in Abu Dhabi but excluded from the three-way talks by Moscow.
Kushner stated that one goal of the upcoming Moscow meeting is to try to get Europeans added to the talks. Zelenskyy posted on X that Europe must be represented at every stage of real diplomacy, noting the importance of the United States maintaining a strong position and influencing the source of the war in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that European representatives could eventually join peace talks, but asserted their current statements show no desire to contribute to peace, complaining that Europe finances and supplies weaponry to Ukraine.
Kushner noted that both nations need clarity on postwar security arrangements and that European countries, the EU, and NATO must be involved to build consensus. Ukraine seeks to ensure Moscow does not invade again, while EU officials maintain that discussions on Europe’s security arrangements can only begin after a ceasefire. Kushner stated that Russia’s security concerns were discussed and that Moscow was told it must provide de-escalation proposals acceptable to Europe.
Continuing Conflict and Regional Developments
The negotiations take place against a backdrop of ongoing fighting along the front line, where territory has shifted little this year and both sides utilize long-range missiles and drones. Local authorities reported that a daytime Russian attack on a market in the southern Odesa region killed three people, injured 11, and damaged residential buildings, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration. Ukrainian officials also reported that overnight strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region and the eastern city of Kharkiv wounded seven civilians and damaged property.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated it downed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 150 over the St. Petersburg region. Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that the drones sparked a fire at the Ust-Luga port facility for Russian oil exports, injuring three workers.
In a separate development, Yvonne Mewengkang, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv was seeking access to a 49-voiced Indonesian man reportedly captured in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The man claimed he was unknowingly recruited to fight for the Russian military. According to Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project on Telegram, the man signed what he believed to be a one-year construction contract in Moscow, was taken to occupied Donetsk with no military training, and was captured after his unit was attacked in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian and Russian officials made no immediate comment.
