Russia and Ukraine reached an initial agreement for a large prisoner exchange after two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, but made no progress on a ceasefire or their dispute over territory.
The talks ended Wednesday, November 11. They were the first direct meeting between the countries’ delegations in nine months. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, both confirmed the agreement.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said the sides still needed to agree on how many people would be exchanged. No final number or handover date was announced when the talks ended. Officials described the deal as possibly one of the largest exchanges of the war.
But officials have not confirmed its size. Territory remained a major obstacle to a wider settlement. The sides also remain divided over security arrangements and Europe’s role in future negotiations.
Kushner said some progress had been made on a postwar security plan. But the talks produced no announced ceasefire. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Kushner were due to continue the discussions.
They were due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.