Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners After Abu Dhabi Talks Yield No Breakthrough

A rare prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine unfolded after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi concluded without a breakthrough. Each side returned 157 detainees in the first such swap in four months, offering a limited humanitarian outcome against the backdrop of a war now in its fourth year.

The exchange followed negotiations involving Russian, Ukrainian and US representatives in the United Arab Emirates, where territorial demands and long-term security guarantees again dominated discussions. Despite describing the talks as detailed, US officials acknowledged that substantial gaps remain.

The swap highlights how humanitarian gestures continue even as the political and military deadlock persists, with renewed Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure compounding winter hardships for civilians.

A rare exchange after months of pause

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the exchange “took place after a long pause,” noting that the previous swap had occurred in October. In a social media statement, he confirmed that 157 Ukrainians had returned, including seven civilians.

The returned group included members of Ukraine’s armed forces, National Guard and State Border Service. Ukrainian officials said 139 of those freed had been in Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Zelensky pledged to continue efforts to secure the return of all Ukrainians held in Russia. “We are returning our people home,” he wrote.

Russia’s defence ministry also confirmed the return of 157 of its soldiers. It added that three Russian civilians, described as having been “illegally held,” were handed back by Kyiv. The civilians were residents of Russia’s western Kursk region, parts of which Ukraine entered during cross-border fighting in 2024–25.

Prisoner exchanges have been among the few consistent channels of cooperation between the two sides since the invasion began in February 2022.

Talks in Abu Dhabi focus on territory and guarantees

The exchange came as delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi for what officials described as a second round of negotiations in recent weeks.

The talks are part of US President Donald Trump’s renewed push to end the conflict. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner have been leading the diplomatic effort.

Witkoff described the discussions on X as “detailed and productive,” but added that “significant work remains.” No formal statement outlining progress or proposals was released by any side.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the main sticking points remain unchanged: Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede additional territory in the eastern Donbas region that Moscow does not currently control, and Kyiv’s insistence on strong security guarantees from the United States and European allies to prevent future Russian attacks.

These two issues have repeatedly stalled past negotiation efforts and continue to frame the strategic positions of both sides.

Renewed attacks overshadow diplomacy

The Abu Dhabi meetings took place as Russia resumed attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after a brief pause earlier in the week. The pause had reportedly followed a request from Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a period of severe winter cold across Ukraine.

Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted electricity, heating and water facilities, leaving thousands of civilians without essential services in sub-zero temperatures. Ukrainian authorities say the attacks aim to weaken civilian resilience during the winter months.

The return to strikes during negotiations underscored the fragile nature of any diplomatic progress and the difficulty of separating battlefield dynamics from political talks.

Humanitarian gestures amid strategic stalemate

Prisoner exchanges have often accompanied diplomatic efforts, serving as confidence-building measures even when broader negotiations falter. However, such swaps have not translated into sustained progress toward a ceasefire or settlement.

For families on both sides, the return of detainees provides relief, but the broader conflict shows little sign of de-escalation. Both Kyiv and Moscow remain entrenched in their core demands, while the United States continues to press for dialogue.

With no roadmap or timeline emerging from the Abu Dhabi talks, the exchange stands as the most tangible outcome so far from the latest diplomatic effort.