ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov 11 – Russia and Ukraine have agreed to carry out a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war following two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, offering a rare humanitarian breakthrough in diplomatic efforts to end the nearly five-year conflict.
The agreement was announced Wednesday by officials involved in the negotiations, although the exact number of prisoners expected to be released has not yet been determined. Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, said both sides had reached an understanding on what could become the largest prisoner release of the war so far.
Speaking after the conclusion of the discussions in the United Arab Emirates, Kushner said the delegations had agreed to move forward with the exchange, with the final numbers expected to be confirmed the following day.
The planned arrangement was also confirmed by Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation, and Rustem Umerov, the Ukrainian official leading Kyiv’s negotiating team. Their statements indicated that both governments were prepared to proceed with the humanitarian measure despite continuing disagreements over the broader terms of ending the war.
The development represents a significant outcome from the latest round of diplomatic engagement, particularly as expectations for a major agreement had remained limited before the meetings began. Russia and Ukraine have conducted several prisoner exchanges throughout the conflict, but the latest understanding could result in a particularly large release.
Humanitarian Progress Offers Limited Hope Amid Wider Diplomatic Disagreements
The Abu Dhabi negotiations marked the first direct meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in nine months, highlighting Washington’s renewed efforts to bring the two countries back to the negotiating table. The previous round of discussions between the sides took place in February in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Trump administration has been attempting to revive diplomatic initiatives aimed at stopping the fighting and establishing a framework for a possible settlement. However, previous efforts have struggled to produce meaningful progress, largely because Moscow and Kyiv remain divided over territorial questions, security arrangements and the conditions required to end hostilities.
Kushner said the American negotiating team would continue its diplomatic engagement beyond the United Arab Emirates. He announced that he and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff planned to travel to Moscow on Thursday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following their discussions with the Russian leader, the two U.S. representatives are expected to travel to Dublin, where they will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The planned visits suggest Washington is seeking direct engagement with both governments as it attempts to maintain momentum after the Abu Dhabi meetings.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also described the negotiations as very productive. However, he cautioned that reaching an agreement capable of bringing the war to an end would require additional time and sustained diplomatic efforts.
Zelenskyy offered a similarly measured assessment of the discussions. Speaking on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president described the session as constructive and substantial, indicating that the delegations had addressed several important issues beyond the immediate question of prisoner releases.
According to Zelenskyy, humanitarian matters formed a significant part of the negotiations. These included potential exchanges of prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian civilians held in captivity and efforts to bring back Ukrainian children who have been taken from the country during the conflict.
The Ukrainian president also confirmed that security guarantees were discussed. Such arrangements remain a central concern for Kyiv, which has repeatedly sought assurances that Russia would not launch another invasion if a ceasefire or peace agreement were reached.
Nevertheless, neither side has demonstrated a willingness to significantly soften its position on the central issues preventing a settlement. The prisoner exchange agreement therefore represents progress on a specific humanitarian matter rather than evidence that the two governments are approaching a comprehensive peace deal.
The negotiations are also taking place under changing political circumstances in Washington. Following the U.S. midterm elections, Democrats are expected to take control of Congress in January, potentially increasing pressure on the Trump administration over its approach to the war.
Democratic lawmakers could push for stronger American support for Ukraine, creating additional political considerations for the White House as it pursues negotiations with Moscow. The changing balance of power in Congress may influence future discussions over military assistance, financial support and the terms of any potential settlement.
Economic and military conditions are also adding pressure on both countries. Russia’s wartime economy is facing considerable strain, while Ukraine continues to deal with extensive damage caused by Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Repeated strikes against Ukraine’s electricity network have left the country struggling to protect essential services and maintain power supplies. The damage has become particularly concerning as Russian forces continue using missiles and drones to target infrastructure and other locations far from the front line.
Another point of disagreement concerns the involvement of European governments in the peace process. Moscow has opposed direct European participation in negotiations with Ukraine, despite growing concerns among European countries about Russia’s military activities and its broader intentions toward the continent.
Although European representatives were not part of the direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiating teams, officials from European governments, the European Union and NATO were present in Abu Dhabi. They held consultations with the Ukrainian delegation, providing Kyiv with an opportunity to coordinate its diplomatic position with its European partners.
Umerov said the Ukrainian delegation was expected to meet European officials on Wednesday following the latest discussions. The meetings underline Europe’s continued interest in the outcome of negotiations, particularly because any future security arrangement involving Ukraine could have significant consequences for the wider continent.
Despite the diplomatic activity, military operations have continued without a meaningful reduction in fighting. The front line has remained largely unchanged this year, with neither side making substantial territorial gains. At the same time, Russia and Ukraine have continued launching long-range missiles and drone attacks against each other’s military and infrastructure targets.
Overnight, Russian forces struck locations in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and the eastern city of Kharkiv. The attacks wounded seven civilians and caused damage to buildings and other property, according to the information provided by Ukrainian officials.
Russia also reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone operation targeting several areas of the country. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted or destroyed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 150 over the region surrounding St. Petersburg.
Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of the Leningrad region, said the drone attacks caused a fire at the port of Ust-Luga, a major facility involved in Russia’s oil exports. Three workers were injured in the incident.
Ust-Luga is an important part of Russia’s energy export infrastructure, making the reported attack particularly significant as Ukraine continues targeting facilities connected to Moscow’s ability to generate revenue from oil shipments.
The latest developments illustrate the difficult circumstances surrounding the peace initiative. While the prisoner exchange agreement provides a concrete humanitarian achievement, continued attacks on energy facilities, civilian areas and strategic infrastructure demonstrate that the conflict remains active.
For Washington, the immediate challenge will be turning limited progress into broader diplomatic commitments. The upcoming meetings between Kushner, Witkoff, Putin and Zelenskyy could provide further opportunities to discuss unresolved issues, although no major breakthrough on a ceasefire or comprehensive peace settlement has yet been announced.
The expected prisoner release nevertheless offers a positive development for families waiting for the return of captured relatives. If finalized as planned, the exchange would represent one of the most significant humanitarian steps taken by Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of their full-scale war.