Ukraine and Russia agree to large prisoner swap after Abu Dhabi talk

Russia and Ukraine have agreed in principle to a major prisoner-of-war exchange following two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, although no breakthrough was reached on ending the nearly five-year conflict. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner described the talks as difficult but productive. Kushner said the agreement could lead to the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners since the war began, with final numbers expected to be confirmed shortly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the progress but insisted that European countries must be involved in negotiations concerning the continent’s security. Kyiv wants future discussions to move beyond the existing trilateral format involving Russia, Ukraine and the US.  

ICYMI — Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange following two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi. U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to meet with President Putin in Moscow on November 12. https://t.co/xpBz1hbPky

— Toria Brooke (@realtoriabrooke) November 11, 2026

Washington has indicated support for European participation, particularly on security guarantees, while Moscow has questioned the need for European representatives in direct negotiations, arguing that their support for Ukraine makes them unsuitable as neutral participants. Kushner and Witkoff are expected to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday before travelling to Dublin to brief Zelenskyy on the discussions. 
Separately, reports indicated that Putin had expressed openness to contacts with European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Berlin, however, has reiterated that Europe must have a say in any settlement affecting its security, stressing that decisions on Europe’s future security order cannot be made without European participation.  Despite the prisoner-swap understanding, major differences remain over territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO.