Ukraine and Russia have conducted a rare exchange of prisoners of war and civilians after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi. A total of 157 Ukrainians—seven of them civilians—and an equal number of Russian soldiers were returned home in the first such swap in four months.
Russian, Ukrainian, and US teams participated in the talks in the United Arab Emirates, with conflict over territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine being major sticking points. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that the talks were challenging and he sought quicker results.
No breakthroughs have been reported. Zelensky described the prisoner exchange as a long-awaited event since the last swap in October, emphasizing his commitment to bringing back every Ukrainian still in captivity. Ukrainian officials indicated that 139 of those exchanged had been held since the onset of the war in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry confirmed the return of 157 of its POWs, including three civilians allegedly held illegally in Ukraine. The talks are part of a broader effort by the US, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to mediate an end to the war, which has seen Russia's aggression intensify after a recent week-long pause due to severe winter conditions.
Continued fighting has seen renewed attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges faced by its population. As the war progresses, the prospect of a diplomatic resolution remains uncertain.
Russian, Ukrainian, and US teams participated in the talks in the United Arab Emirates, with conflict over territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine being major sticking points. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that the talks were challenging and he sought quicker results.
No breakthroughs have been reported. Zelensky described the prisoner exchange as a long-awaited event since the last swap in October, emphasizing his commitment to bringing back every Ukrainian still in captivity. Ukrainian officials indicated that 139 of those exchanged had been held since the onset of the war in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry confirmed the return of 157 of its POWs, including three civilians allegedly held illegally in Ukraine. The talks are part of a broader effort by the US, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to mediate an end to the war, which has seen Russia's aggression intensify after a recent week-long pause due to severe winter conditions.
Continued fighting has seen renewed attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges faced by its population. As the war progresses, the prospect of a diplomatic resolution remains uncertain.
