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Veterans & National Security · Report · File No. 261111-042

Russia and Ukraine agree to large prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi, but no peace breakthrough

Two days of U.S.-mediated talks ended with a deal in principle on a big prisoner exchange, but the sides remain far apart on territory, security guarantees and Europe's role. The result is mixed for the Trump administration's peace push.

By the National Desk · · 2 min read

Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

My clippings
Jared Kushner
Jared Kushner. Photo: The White House, Public domain

Russia and Ukraine agreed Wednesday to a large exchange of prisoners of war. Both sides said so as two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, ended with no major breakthrough on ending Russia's nearly 5-year-old full-scale invasion 1.

Hopes had been low. It was the first meeting between the two delegations in nine months. They last met in February in Geneva 1. The talks lasted just under two hours Wednesday, after a four-hour session the day before 1.

On tapeForbes Breaking News · Nov 11
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff hold a press briefing in Abu Dhabi amid Russia-Ukraine peace talks.Video: Forbes Breaking News on YouTube, “FULL: Jared Kushner Announces Meetings With Putin, Zelensky Amidst Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.

What was agreed

Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, said the sides agreed to the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners yet. He said the numbers would be finalized Thursday 1.

Jared Kushner
One of the positives is we agreed that we're going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we're going to finalize the numbers tomorrow,
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy1

Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation, said the deal was only "in principle." Rustem Umerov, who led Ukraine's team, also confirmed the plan 1. A Russian General Staff official said the swap could happen in two or three weeks. He said it would be one of the biggest since 1,000 soldiers from each side went home last year 1.

From Channel GOPColbert on Giuliani as Trump's Ukraine fall guyStephen Colbert · 417 plays · captioned, with the source named

A second report said Russia's General Staff spoke of more than 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukraine's president had floated a swap of 1,000 to 1,500 2.

What was not settled

The big hurdles remain. They include security guarantees for both countries after the war, the fate of Ukrainian territory that Russia occupies, and what role European countries will play in any settlement 1.

On tapeAssociated Press · Nov 11
AP report: Russia and Ukraine agree to a large prisoner exchange as Abu Dhabi talks end; Kushner comments.Video: Associated Press on YouTube, “Russia and Ukraine agree to a large prisoner exchange as talks end”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.

Moscow does not want Europeans in the direct talks. Kushner said one goal of his Moscow trip is to try to get them added 1. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European representatives could eventually join. He added that their current statements "don't indicate any desire on their part to contribute to movement along the path toward peace" 1.

Kushner was blunt about trust between the two sides.

Jared Kushner
The reality is, is there's no trust right now between the sides. And that's to be expected after a conflict like this,
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy1

What happens next

Kushner said he and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will go to Moscow on Thursday to meet President Vladimir Putin. They will then fly to Dublin, Ireland, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 1.

Fighting has not paused. Three people died and 11 were hurt in a Russian daytime attack on a market in the Odesa region, local authorities said 1. Russia said it downed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, and a fire at the oil port of Ust-Luga injured three workers 1.

Why it matters

The prisoner swap is real relief for families on both sides. But it is not a step toward ending the war on its own. Russia and Ukraine have swapped prisoners from time to time while staying far apart on peace terms 1.

The setting is also changing for the White House. Democrats will take over Congress in January after the midterm elections, and they could demand more support for Ukraine 1. The wire reports did not include comment from congressional Democrats on Wednesday's talks.

The Record

  1. Russian and Ukrainian delegations last met, in Geneva, before this week's talks 1.
  2. U.S.-mediated talks open in Abu Dhabi with a four-hour session 1.
  3. Talks end after just under two hours with a prisoner exchange agreed in principle and no major breakthrough 12.
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Sources

  1. Courthouse News (AP), “Russia and Ukraine agree to a large prisoner exchange as talks end with no major breakthrough” (2026-11-11). courthousenews.com/russia-and-ukraine-agree-to-a-large-priso
  2. DPA via Yahoo News, “Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi end with prisoner exchange deal” (2026-11-11). yahoo.com/news/world/articles/russia-ukraine-talks-abu-dhabi

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