Ukraine and Russia reached a preliminary agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange during the second day of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, concluding on November 11. Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov stated that the main result was an agreement on a "large-scale" swap, with both sides now working to finalize practical implementation details. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the deal, noting that specific numbers would be announced soon. This development follows President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s earlier report that delegations discussed exchanging 1,000 or possibly 1,500 prisoners each. The potential scale matches the largest single swap of the war, which occurred in May 2025 after Istanbul talks.
Negotiation Details and Context
The first three-way round in Abu Dhabi ended in stalemate on territory but produced a deal for 314 prisoners, making this new agreement the first tangible outcome of the current cycle. TASS cited Russian General Alexander Zorin, claiming the upcoming exchange will involve more than 1,000 people on each side, though neither Kyiv nor Moscow has disclosed exact figures or timelines. The most recent swap took place on October 23, when Ukraine brought home 270 people, including 261 servicemen and nine civilians, as part of a combined exchange beginning August 19. That October transfer marked the 11th reported prisoner exchange of 2026, following two swaps in August.
Zelenskiy emphasized that bringing people home remains a priority, while also addressing broader political issues. He noted that Russia raised the question of territory, which he described as a matter for leaders, and that NATO and EU membership were also discussed. The second day of talks focused on de-escalation, energy, the Black Sea, and a possible three-way meeting of leaders. Kyiv wants guns to fall silent before a settlement is written, advocating for a front-line freeze as a starting point. In contrast, Putin reportedly wants a peace plan signed before halting fighting, a sequence Zelenskiy rejected. Zelenskiy argued that giving up the Donbas would not bring peace, pointing to Russia’s 2022 attempt to take Kyiv despite its stated focus on the east. He warned that Moscow could use any pause to regroup and attack again, highlighting the fundamental disagreement over the order of operations.
