Abu Dhabi talks end with large-scale prisoner swap agreed, no ceasefire breakthrough

Russian, Ukrainian and US officials began a second day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (11 November), continuing discussions on a possible settlement to end the war in Ukraine. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator, announced on Telegram that the talks were starting, first in a trilateral format with the United States and Russia, followed by a separate meeting with European partners.

First day described as constructive

The first day of talks was the first direct meeting between the warring sides since February. Kyiv and Washington described the discussions as constructive and substantive, covering humanitarian and security issues. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the first day very productive, without giving details. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the sides also discussed territorial issues, security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible prisoner exchange of up to 1,500 people each, and that a summit of the three countries' leaders could be discussed.

Focus on de-escalation

According to Bloomberg, Wednesday's discussions focus on de-escalation measures, including possible ceasefires covering the Black Sea and energy infrastructure. Wednesday is the last day of talks currently scheduled.

Wide gaps remain

Reuters noted that Moscow and Kyiv went into the talks far apart on the terms of a possible settlement, and the first day produced no early signs of a breakthrough. Neither side released details after the first day.

Second day ends in under two hours

The second day of talks ended on Wednesday after less than two hours, following a first day of about four and a half hours. Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Russian state television that the two sides had agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange, with details to be announced soon; Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov also confirmed the swap arrangement. No joint statement was issued, and no date for a next round was announced.

Swap may exceed 1,000 each side, numbers to be set Thursday

US envoy Jared Kushner said the sides had agreed to the largest humanitarian release of prisoners since the war began, with final numbers to be set on Thursday (12 November). President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier said formats of 1,000-for-1,000, possibly 1,500-for-1,500, were discussed; the Russian General Staff said more than 1,000 captives could be handed over by each side over the next two to three weeks. If finalised, it would exceed the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange of May last year.

No breakthrough on ceasefire or territory

There was no breakthrough on a ceasefire or territory, with the sides still far apart on core issues including security guarantees. Kushner and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet President Vladimir Putin, before heading to Dublin to meet Zelenskyy, as the talks continue.

(File photo: the Abu Dhabi skyline.)