🏛️🤝 Ukraine and Russia conclude major prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi talks
Oneliner
Ukraine and Russia have completed a significant prisoner exchange of 314 individuals during US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi. The exchange, the first since October 2025, included 157 Ukrainians and marked a diplomatic step forward amid ongoing negotiations. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that follow-up talks are expected to occur soon, potentially in the United States. However, territorial disputes remain a major hurdle, with no political breakthroughs reported from the discussions.
Key points
- Ukraine and Russia exchanged 314 prisoners of war, marking a significant diplomatic step.
- US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi resulted in an agreement to continue negotiations soon.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expects follow-up discussions in the United States.
- The talks highlighted ongoing territorial disputes, with no political breakthroughs reported.
Links
- Diário de Notícias: Kiev e Moscovo trocam prisioneiros e acordam continuar negociações
- Público: EEUU y Rusia acuerdan retomar el diálogo militar al máximo nivel cuatro años después de suspenderlo
- The Guardian: Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv and Moscow hold major prisoner exchange
- Público: Kiev y Moscú cierran la segunda ronda de contactos en Abu Dabi con un canje de prisioneros
- T-Online: Ukraine erwartet rasch nächste Verhandlungen in den USA
- Europa Press: Zelenski apunta a una nueva ronda de negociaciones con Rusia en suelo estadounidense
- Die Welt: Ukraine erwartet rasch nächste Verhandlungen in den USA
- Der Tagesspiegel: „Russland muss Appetit verlieren, weiterzukämpfen“: Selenskyj erwartet nächste Gesprächsrunde in den USA
- Die Welt: Ukraine-Krieg: ++ Russischer General in Moskau niedergeschossen – Estland schließt zeitweise Grenze zu Russland ++ Liveticker
- T-Online: Tote in Ukraine nach russischen Angriffen
- Europa Press: El Kremlin destaca los "constructivos y muy desafiantes" contactos en Abu Dabi y confirma que "continuarán"
- BFMTV: Guerre en Ukraine: la Russie affirme que les pourparlers à Abou Dhabi ont été "très complexes" mais "constructifs"
- T-Online: Russischer General bei Attentat schwer verletzt
- Die Welt: Ukraine-Krieg: ++ Russischer General in Moskau niedergeschossen – Lawrow beschuldigt Ukraine ++ Liveticker
- efe.com: Atentan contra un general ruso en Moscú: el Kremlin acusa a Ucrania de estar detrás
- Europa Press: La OTAN "toma nota" del acuerdo de EEUU y Rusia para retomar el diálogo militar tras cinco años suspendido
- Le Figaro: Un haut responsable militaire russe blessé par des tirs et hospitalisé à Moscou, Lavrov impute l’attaque à l’Ukraine
- Associated Press: Zelenskyy says Ukrainian air force needs to improve as Russian drone barrages take a toll
Facts
- 314 prisoners exchanged between Ukraine and Russia on February 5, 2026.
- 157 Ukrainians returned, including soldiers from Mariupol.
- Next round of negotiations expected in the United States.
- US special envoy Steve Witkoff facilitated the talks in Abu Dhabi.
Quotes
- Although there is still much work to be done, measures like this show that continued diplomatic engagement is producing tangible results — Steve Witkoff
- We will continue to work to free our people from captivity — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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