Russia and Ukraine ended their latest UAE-hosted talks with a major prisoner exchange, but failed to bridge differences on territory, ceasefire terms and long-term security guarantees.
Representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United States during the second round of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Photo: X/@SEPeaceMissions
The second round of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in the UAE on Thursday with an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange, even as the two sides failed to narrow differences on fundamental issues such as territory, a ceasefire, and long-term security arrangements.
The discussions, held in Abu Dhabi, involved delegations from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine and focused on easing humanitarian concerns amid the continuing war. While the prisoner swap was finalised and implemented soon after, the talks did not produce any joint political or security statement, reflecting the lack of progress on broader peace terms.
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According to Ukraine, the talks were initially conducted in a trilateral format before moving to group-level consultations. Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said the Ukrainian delegation was pushing for a “dignified and lasting peace”, though he did not spell out specific outcomes of the negotiations, Xinhua news agency reported.
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US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the discussions as “specific and constructive”, saying representatives of the three countries had reached a consensus on a prisoner exchange. He cautioned, however, that much more work would be needed to move towards a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
Soon after the talks ended, Russia and Ukraine carried out their first large-scale prisoner exchange in nearly five months, with 157 detainees returned by each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said those freed included both military personnel and civilians.
Earlier, the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv on the exchange, saying it underscored the UAE’s role as a trusted mediator working to reduce tensions and encourage dialogue between the two sides.
Despite the humanitarian breakthrough, no timeline was announced for the next round of negotiations, underlining the uncertainty surrounding the peace process. Zelensky said later on Thursday that further talks involving delegations from the US and Russia were expected soon, adding that the next meetings were likely to be held in the United States.
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