Ukraine and US Discuss New Prisoner Exchange Amidst Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
Negotiations between Ukrainian and US delegations in Miami over the weekend have raised the possibility of a new prisoner exchange with Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While a resumption of trilateral talks with Russia appears stalled, the potential for further prisoner swaps offers a glimmer of diplomatic progress.
US Focus Shifts to Iran, Impacting Ukraine Negotiations
The meetings, held on Saturday and Sunday, involved Rustem Umérov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Kirilo Budánov, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office, representing Ukraine. The US side was led by Steve Witkoff, White House Special Representative for Peacekeeping Missions, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. These talks marked a resumption of bilateral dialogue after being paused in early March due to the escalating conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, which redirected the Trump administration’s attention to the Middle East.1
Previous Prisoner Exchanges
Ukraine and Russia completed a two-day prisoner-of-war swap in March 2026, exchanging 500 soldiers each.12 Prior to this, a prisoner exchange involving 314 prisoners of war occurred in February, the first such exchange in five months.4
Challenges to Further Negotiations
Despite the potential for continued prisoner exchanges, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russia currently shows no willingness to resume trilateral negotiations. He emphasized the importance of continued international pressure on Russia, stating, “It is understandable that the attention of the US side is mainly focused on the situation around Iran but it is as well necessary to position an complete to this war of Russia against Ukraine.”3
Key sticking points in broader negotiations remain the status of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia demanding their complete transfer, and the future control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.3
US Sanctions and Russian Revenue
Zelenskyy also expressed concern over the Trump administration’s decision to partially lift sanctions on Russian crude oil, linking it to an increase in attacks on Ukrainian territory. He stated that Russia launched nearly 1,550 attack drones and over 1,260 aerial bombs against Ukraine in the previous week, and estimated that sanctions relief could provide an additional $10 billion to the Kremlin’s coffers.3 Several G7 members have voiced disagreement with the move.3
With trilateral negotiations stalled and territorial disputes unresolved, prisoner exchanges represent the most immediate diplomatic avenue for progress.
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