Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to a major new prisoner exchange after two days of negotiations in Abu Dhabi, although the number of people involved has not yet been finalized.
The agreement was confirmed by the heads of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, as well as U.S. representative Jared Kushner, according to Vesti Baku.
Details Expected Later
Medinsky said the sides had agreed on a large exchange and would disclose its specific terms later. Humanitarian issues were discussed separately during the Nov. 10-11 talks.
Kushner described the agreement as one of the positive results of the meeting. He said Moscow and Kyiv intended to finalize the number of participants on Nov. 12.
Umerov also confirmed that an agreement had been reached but did not provide a date for the exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier said negotiators were discussing options involving 1,000 prisoners from each side or 1,500 from each side. Those figures remain possible scenarios rather than approved terms.
No Broader Breakthrough Yet
The meeting in the United Arab Emirates was the first direct round of negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in nine months.
Discussions lasted about four hours on the first day and two hours on the second.
In addition to prisoners of war, the parties discussed the return of detained civilians and children taken from Ukraine, security guarantees, de-escalation and the future security structure in Europe.
Moscow and Kyiv remain divided on the main political and territorial questions. The humanitarian agreement therefore does not amount to a broader deal to end the war.
U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Kushner are expected to continue separate consultations with Russian and Ukrainian leaders after the Abu Dhabi meeting.