Ukraine, US and Russia agree to prepare major prisoner exchange after Abu Dhabi talks
Two days of talks between Ukrainian, US and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi produced an agreement to prepare a large prisoner exchange. The sides nevertheless remained far apart on territories, security guarantees and the scope of negotiations, while Ukraine insisted on full European participation in future talks with Russia.
Key points
- The second day of Ukraine-US-Russia talks ended in Abu Dhabi on November 11.
- The agreement to prepare a major prisoner exchange was the main outcome, but no total or date was announced.
- Zelensky said an exchange could involve up to 1,200 prisoners; formats of 1,000-for-1,000 or 1,500-for-1,500 were also discussed.
- US negotiators proposed revising the administrative boundaries of Donetsk and Luhansk, a proposal Ukraine rejected.
- Russia sought a broad agreement on European security, Ukrainian troop withdrawals and reduced NATO presence in Eastern Europe.
- Ukraine called on European countries to appoint a joint representative for negotiations with Russia in November.
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were due to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 12 before travelling to Dublin to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Why it matters
The prisoner exchange is the talks' clearest concrete result and could be substantially larger than previous exchanges. Its size and timing were not finalized, however, and territorial issues, security guarantees and Russia's broader demands remained major obstacles. The talks also created opportunities for further diplomacy, with participants pointing to possible progress in early 2027.
What happened
Delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia met in Abu Dhabi over two days. The first session on November 10 lasted 4.5 hours, including a 40-minute pause. Ukrainian participants included Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, Serhiy Kyslytsia and Vadym Skibitskyi. Vladimir Medynskyi led the Russian delegation, which for the first time included Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybkov. The United States was represented by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The sides confirmed an agreement to prepare a major prisoner exchange, but did not publish the number of prisoners involved or agree a specific date. Zelensky said up to 1,200 prisoners could be included and said the talks also considered 1,000-for-1,000 and 1,500-for-1,500 formats. He later described the agreement as evidence that a real possibility existed to end the war by 2027, provided all parties participated.
US negotiators proposed changing the administrative boundaries of Donetsk and Luhansk as part of ending the war, but Ukraine rejected the proposal. Russian participants also presented broad demands concerning European security, a withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of eastern Ukraine and reductions in NATO's presence in Eastern Europe.
In separate meetings, Ukrainian and US delegations met representatives of NATO, the European Commission, Britain, Germany, France and Italy without Russia. Participants said any future settlement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to make its own decisions, and provide reliable security guarantees. Ukraine and the United States also discussed European participation in the talks.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents the prisoner-exchange agreement as the principal positive outcome while stressing that major differences remain. Officials say Ukraine rejected changes to administrative boundaries and insist that any settlement preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity and include reliable security guarantees. Kyiv is also pressing for full European participation and has asked European governments to appoint a joint negotiator.
How international sources describe it
International coverage focuses on the diplomatic sequence linking the Abu Dhabi talks with planned meetings in Moscow and Dublin. It also highlights the participation of European and NATO representatives and the negotiations over security guarantees, territories and a possible prisoner exchange. The reported suggestion of exchanging Ukraine for Iran is presented as an expert assessment rather than an established negotiating proposal.
Where reporting differs
The principal disagreements concerned territories and the timing of broader negotiations. Ukraine rejected proposals to revise administrative boundaries and maintained that occupied territories had not been discussed as a concession, while Russia sought to link any ceasefire to a comprehensive European security agreement. European participants maintained that broader security issues should not be negotiated before hostilities end. The possible size of the prisoner exchange was also described inconsistently: no total was announced, Zelensky referred to formats of 1,000-for-1,000 or 1,500-for-1,500 and later said up to 1,200 prisoners could be included.
Background
The Abu Dhabi talks brought together Ukrainian, US and Russian delegations for two days. Separate meetings involved Ukraine and the United States with representatives of NATO, the European Commission, Britain, Germany, France and Italy, without Russian participation. Russia wanted a wider agreement on European security, Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of eastern Ukraine and NATO's presence in Eastern Europe to be reduced. European countries had not yet appointed a joint representative for talks with Russia.