Peace talks in Abu Dhabi yielded no broader diplomatic breakthrough on Wednesday, though negotiators agreed to exchange between 1,000 and 1,500 prisoners from each side, NOS Nieuws reported.
Russia and Ukraine are holding their first high-level talks in nine months. The discussions began on Tuesday and were mediated by the United States. While expectations were low prior to the meetings, both delegations used separate channels to brief the public after proceedings concluded on Wednesday, according to NOS Nieuws.
Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated on Russian television that mutual understanding had increased on certain points, bringing peace closer.
“At this moment, much depends on all those involved in the process,” Medinsky said. “Much depends on Ukraine, on the stance of the United States, and on whether Europe comes to its senses.”
Conversely, Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arachamia asserted that future talks must become multilateral to include European representation. Arachamia expressed a belief that a foundation was laid in Abu Dhabi to reach a solution before the end of the year, though he did not specify how.
Prisoner Exchange Details
The planned prisoner swap stands as the most concrete outcome of the two-day diplomatic session. American mediator Jared Kushner announced the agreement during a joint press conference, according to NRC. Russian negotiator Alexander Zorin told the Russian state press agency TASS that the exchange involving more than 1,000 prisoners could take place within the next two to three weeks.
“One of the positive results is that we have reached an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange to date. We will finalize the numbers tomorrow,” Kushner said.
The scale of the upcoming transfer matches previous large-scale releases, mirroring a swap in May where both nations exchanged 1,000 prisoners each. Beyond the prisoner swap, delegations addressed postwar security for Ukraine and ceasefire oversight mechanisms, with Kushner noting that territorial issues remain the most difficult challenge.
Diplomatic Divisions Over Europe
Disagreements persist over European participation in the peace process. While German officials expressed cautious optimism and anticipated direct European representation in subsequent rounds, Russian delegates rejected direct talks with European counterparts.
“We have not received a single peace initiative from them, therefore it is not clear what to discuss,” Medinsky said, as cited by NRC.
Despite refusing contact with European representatives in Abu Dhabi, the Kremlin indicated a willingness to engage with specific European leaders such as Friedrich Merz, according to TASS reporting cited by NRC. Meanwhile, US and Ukrainian representatives held separate discussions with European envoys during the summit.
Next Steps in Moscow and Dublin
Following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi talks, American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned to travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian president Vladimir Poetin, according to NRC. From there, the American envoys scheduled a subsequent meeting in Dublin with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Topics Discussed Alongside the Prisoner Swap
What specific topics were discussed alongside the prisoner swap?
Negotiators addressed postwar security guarantees for Ukraine and potential monitoring frameworks for a future ceasefire, though territorial disputes remain unresolved.
When and where are the next diplomatic meetings scheduled?
American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned to meet Russian president Vladimir Poetin in Moscow on Thursday, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin.
Why did the Russian delegation refuse to meet with European representatives in Abu Dhabi?
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky said that Moscow has not received any peace initiatives from Europe and does not understand what to discuss with European officials.
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