Ukraine and Russia Exchange Prisoners Following Abu Dhabi Talks
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a new prisoner exchange following talks in Abu Dhabi with U.S. Mediation, according to Steve Witkoff, a special envoy. The agreement involves the exchange of 314 prisoners, marking the first such exchange in five months, Witkoff announced on social media. He described the negotiations as “detailed and productive,” while acknowledging that “much work remains.”
The exchange follows earlier mediation efforts by the United Arab Emirates, which have facilitated multiple prisoner swaps between the two countries. In February 2024, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 100 prisoners of war each following mediation by the UAE. Prior to that, in January 2024, the two countries exchanged 195 POWs each, also with UAE mediation. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry reported that the February 2024 exchange was its third mediation effort since December, calling for dialogue and de-escalation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his expectation that the exchange would proceed soon. He received a detailed report on the progress and emphasized the urgency of securing the return of captured citizens. The Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi was led by Rustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, who indicated that contacts would continue in the coming days.
This latest development comes after trilateral talks involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine were held in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2026. These talks, which excluded European participation, resulted in a “preliminary agreement” regarding U.S. Participation in security guarantees for Ukraine, intended to deter further Russian offensives after a potential cease-fire. However, the territorial issue remains unresolved, according to Zelenskyy.
U.S. Officials involved in the talks included Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, Jared Kushner, the U.S. President’s son-in-law, and Josh Gruenbaum, recently appointed as advisor to the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by Trump. President Trump stated, “The war must end” after meeting with Zelenskyy in Davos on January 22, 2026.
The UAE has been actively involved in mediating between Russia and Ukraine, with Putin thanking the country for its continued efforts, which have also led to successful prisoner exchanges. The UAE brokered a larger exchange of 350 prisoners on March 19, 2025, bringing the total number of people returned home through Emirati mediation to 3,233. Zelenskyy stated that another 22 Ukrainian “defenders” were also on their way back to Ukraine through separate measures.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 2,300 Ukrainian citizens have been released through prisoner exchanges, according to Ukrainian sources. Russia has reportedly slowed down these processes to influence the negotiations. Zelenskyy reported that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since 2022, in addition to those who are missing.
The UAE’s mediation follows similar efforts by Saudi Arabia to host talks on the war and strengthen ties with Ukraine. The recent prisoner exchange represents a breakthrough after months of stalled progress, facilitated by the combined diplomatic efforts of the UAE, the United States, and other international actors.
