Russia and Ukraine agree to swap prisoners in Abu Dhabi, and agree on almost nothing else

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators ended two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, 11 November, agreeing to what both sides described as a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war.

It was the first direct round between Kyiv and Moscow in nine months, after a session in Geneva in February ended in stalemate. The US brokered this one.

Jared Kushner, one of two US envoys at the table, told reporters the sides had agreed to “the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners” and would finalise the numbers on Thursday. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and Russia’s delegation head, Vladimir Medinsky, both confirmed the exchange. Neither gave a figure or a date.

On Tuesday, Mr Zelensky said negotiators had discussed swapping 1,000 prisoners from each side, possibly rising to 1,500 each. That is a figure under discussion, not an agreed one.

What did they not agree on?

Almost everything else. There was no breakthrough on a ceasefire, which Moscow rejects until broader security arrangements are settled. Russia still insists Ukraine withdraw from the part of the Donbas region it controls, while Mr Zelensky says territory can only be decided by leaders. Security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed but no agreement was announced.

Mr Kushner called the talks substantive and tough, and said territory would be the hardest issue. On the prospect of a Putin-Zelensky meeting, he said “we are pushing a boulder uphill”, noting there was little trust between the two leaders.

Ukrainian delegation member Davyd Arakhamia said significant progress had been made, called the talks among the most difficult he had been part of, and said the Russian side came with particularly strict instructions. He said he hoped for a solution before the new year.

Where does Europe fit?

On the sidelines, by Moscow’s design. European Union, NATO and national officials were in Abu Dhabi for separate meetings with the Ukrainian and US teams, not with Russia. Mr Medinsky said his delegation had no contact with the Europeans and would consider their ideas only when they brought concrete proposals.

Mr Zelensky, on a state visit to Copenhagen and briefed by video, said it had not been easy to involve Europe and that European security could not be decided without it.

What does a swap mean for the people involved?

Prisoner exchanges are the one part of this war where the two sides have kept dealing with each other. During the Istanbul talks in May 2025 they agreed a 1,000-for-1,000 exchange, and they have swapped smaller groups from time to time since. For families in both countries waiting on news of captured soldiers, a swap at that scale would be among the largest of the war. Its exact size, and who is on the lists, will only be known once Thursday’s numbers are settled.

Why does it matter beyond Ukraine?

The war drives energy prices, defence spending and Western security planning, Australia’s included. Australia has committed more than $1.5 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022, and Australian volunteers have died fighting there. Any route to a ceasefire runs through talks like these; Wednesday’s outcome shows how slow that route still is.

Is the fighting slowing?

No. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences brought down 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, about 150 of them over the region around St Petersburg, according to the regional governor. Drones started a fire at the Ust-Luga oil export port, injuring three workers. Russian attacks on southern Zaporizhzhia and eastern Kharkiv wounded seven civilians. Front lines have barely moved this year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting very productive but said a breakthrough to stop the war would take time.

VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.