Ukraine and Russia have conducted a rare exchange of prisoners of war and civilians after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 157 Ukrainians - seven of them civilians - and 157 Russian soldiers were returned home in the first such swap in four months.
Russian, Ukrainian, and US teams took part in the talks in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The main sticking points are believed to be territorial concessions Ukraine is under pressure to make and security guarantees to prevent further Russian attacks if a deal is agreed to end the four-year war.
No breakthrough has been reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that the talks had not been easy and he sought faster results.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In a social media post, Zelensky noted the prisoner exchange had occurred after a long pause, referencing the last swap in October. He stated, We are returning our people home - 157 Ukrainians, soldiers of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Service. Civilians are also returning with the defenders. Most have been in captivity since 2012. Ukrainian officials mentioned that many had been detained since 2022.
On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the return of 157 POWs and also stated that three civilians "illegally held" were returned, residents of the Kursk region.
The talks in Abu Dhabi are part of US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the conflict, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Although Witkoff characterized the discussions as detailed and productive, he noted that significant work remains. The main challenges continue to focus on territory and robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
Notably, the trilateral talks coincided with a renewal of Russian attacks on Ukraine, raising concerns about the ongoing humanitarian impact and worsening conditions for civilians amidst winter.
