World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Russia and Ukraine agree to major prisoner exchange after Abu Dhabi talks
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a major prisoner exchange after two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
The agreement was announced by U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, but the number of prisoners is still to be finalised.
The countries have exchanged thousands of captured soldiers since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The talks also covered humanitarian issues and security arrangements, but they produced no breakthrough on ending the war.
Fighting continues, and both countries have carried out attacks on each other’s territory.
Kushner and fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff plan to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before travelling to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ireland.
The sides are expected to continue talks, though their disagreements remain unresolved.
Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner exchange after U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
The exchange’s numbers and specific parameters have not yet been announced.
The talks took place on November 10 and 11, with no breakthrough reported on ending the war or resolving territorial issues.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff said they would travel to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin, then to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Who
- Russia and Ukraine agreed to the exchange. The talks were mediated by the United States.
- What
- The sides agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner exchange.
- When
- November 10–11, 2026.
- Where
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- The exchange was discussed as a humanitarian outcome of talks focused on issues including prisoners, security guarantees and the war. The sources do not state a specific reason for reaching the agreement.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The delegations met for talks in Abu Dhabi, with the first day including discussions of security guarantees.
The talks concluded after two days, and officials confirmed agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner exchange.
Kushner and Witkoff said they would travel to Moscow to meet Putin.
- Talks
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Dates
- November 10–11, 2026
- Prisoner exchange
- Agreed in principle; numbers and parameters not yet announced
- Mediators
- Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff
- Next planned stop
- Moscow, to meet Vladimir Putin
9 sources
Russia and Ukraine agree to a large exchange of prisoners of war, officials say
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Russia and Ukraine agree to a large-scale prisoner swap at U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
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What people are saying
One of the positives is we agreed that we're going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we're going to finalize the numbers tomorrow
every inch of our land will be returned to Russia
have agreed in principle on a new large-scale prisoner exchange