Russia and Ukraine Agree to Large Prisoner Swap as Abu Dhabi Peace Talks End Without a Breakthrough

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, the one concrete result of two days of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi that ended on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, without a breakthrough on ending the war.

In short: After a second day of talks lasting under two hours, both sides confirmed they had agreed to what US envoy Jared Kushner called the "biggest humanitarian release of prisoners" of the war, with the exact numbers to be finalised on Thursday, November 12. There was no agreement on a ceasefire, territory or security guarantees, and more negotiations will follow.

What Was Agreed in Abu Dhabi

The two-day round in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, was the first direct three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the United States since February 2026. Russia's delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, while Ukraine's team was led by Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner mediated, with NATO commander General Alexus Grynkewich also present.

The opening session on Tuesday, November 10, lasted about four to four and a half hours. The second day, Wednesday, November 11, wrapped up after less than two hours. Hopes for a major breakthrough had been low from the start, and the talks ended with the war itself unresolved — but with a humanitarian deal both sides publicly confirmed.

"One of the positives is we agreed that we're going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we're going to finalise the numbers tomorrow," Kushner told reporters after the talks ended. Medinsky and Umerov both confirmed the planned exchange. Russian news agency TASS, citing Lieutenant-General Alexander Zorin, reported that the swap could take place within the next two to three weeks.

Some reports suggested the exchange could involve as many as 1,500 prisoners on each side, but no number has been officially confirmed. A member of the Ukrainian delegation, David Arakhamia, said it would be one of the largest exchanges of the war. Prisoner swaps have taken place repeatedly during the nearly five-year war; the February 2026 round of talks in Abu Dhabi produced an exchange of 314 prisoners.

No Breakthrough on Ceasefire or Territory

Beyond the prisoner deal, the talks produced little concrete progress. Medinsky said the two sides had reached "mutual understanding" on some issues but not on others, and that "this discussion will, of course, continue." He said the central theme of the two days had been a new European security framework, arguing that the war had exposed shortcomings in Europe's security system and calling for a "fair security framework" that accounts for the interests of all countries.

Medinsky also made clear that Moscow sees no role for the European Union in the process for now. "We have not received a single peace initiative or a single concrete peace proposal from European countries, so it is unclear what there is to discuss," he said. Umerov, for his part, reported "enormous progress" but gave no details, and said Ukraine's delegation would meet European officials later on Wednesday.

Ukraine has continued to push for a ceasefire and credible security guarantees against future Russian aggression. Russia has resisted the ceasefire demand, and the two sides remain divided over territory — the issue that was expected to dominate the second day. US officials believe there is little trust between the two sides, and the talks were described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "constructive and quite substantive" after day one, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the first session "very productive."

What Happens Next

The diplomacy does not stop in Abu Dhabi. US envoys are due to meet President Putin in Moscow and President Zelenskyy in Dublin after the Abu Dhabi round, as Washington tries to keep the momentum going. Further rounds of talks are expected, though no date has been announced.

Meanwhile, the fighting went on even as the delegations met. Russia attacked six major Ukrainian electricity facilities in four regions overnight, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskiy said on November 11, in the latest strikes on Ukraine's power grid. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight. NATO also scrambled jets overnight after at least four drones strayed into the airspace of the Baltic states during Ukrainian strikes on Russia.

For now, the Abu Dhabi meeting represents a renewed diplomatic channel rather than evidence that a peace agreement is close. The prisoner swap — if it happens in the coming weeks — would be the most tangible humanitarian outcome of the first direct talks between the two sides in nine months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Russia and Ukraine agree in Abu Dhabi?

The two sides agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, which US envoy Jared Kushner described as the "biggest humanitarian release of prisoners" of the war. The exact numbers are to be finalised on Thursday, November 12, and the swap could take place within two to three weeks.

Did the Abu Dhabi talks end the war in Ukraine?

No. The two days of talks on November 10–11, 2026, produced no breakthrough on a ceasefire, territory or security guarantees. Both sides said more negotiations will follow, and US envoys are due to meet President Putin in Moscow and President Zelenskyy in Dublin next.

Who led the talks in Abu Dhabi?

Russia's delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, Ukraine's by Rustem Umerov, and the United States mediated through envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. It was the first trilateral meeting between the three countries since February 2026.

How many prisoners will be exchanged?

No official number has been confirmed. Some reports suggested as many as 1,500 prisoners on each side, but the numbers are due to be finalised on November 12. The February 2026 round of talks produced a 314-prisoner exchange.

What was the main disagreement at the talks?

Territory and security guarantees remain the main obstacles. Ukraine wants a ceasefire and credible security guarantees; Russia has resisted a ceasefire, and Moscow said the central theme was a new European security framework, while rejecting any EU role in the process for now.

Did the fighting stop during the talks?

No. Russia attacked six major Ukrainian electricity facilities in four regions overnight, and Russia said it intercepted 627 Ukrainian drones overnight. NATO scrambled jets after at least four drones strayed into Baltic states' airspace.

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