Russia-Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi End Without Breakthrough, but Prisoner Swap Agreed

ABU DHABI (Terror Monitor) — Russian and Ukrainian delegations have concluded two days of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi without making a major breakthrough toward ending the war, although the two sides agreed to carry out a new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war.

The negotiations, which began on Tuesday, November 10, and continued into Wednesday, November 11, were hosted by the United Arab Emirates and mediated by Washington. The discussions brought together representatives of Russia and Ukraine, with senior US officials playing a central role in the diplomatic effort.

The agreement on a prisoner exchange emerged as the most tangible outcome of the talks, while the broader questions surrounding a ceasefire and a possible settlement remained unresolved.

Largest prisoner exchange under discussion

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Jared Kushner said the two sides had agreed on what he described as the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, with the final numbers expected to be worked out on Thursday.

Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine’s delegation leader Rustem Umerov also confirmed the understanding on a large-scale prisoner exchange.

According to reports by the Associated Press and Al Jazeera, the exact number of prisoners and the date of the exchange had not yet been settled. Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that the exchange could take place within two to three weeks.

The agreement is being viewed as the most concrete outcome of the Abu Dhabi discussions, although previous prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv have not translated into progress on a wider political settlement.

Kushner and Witkoff to meet Putin

Following the conclusion of the talks, Kushner said the United States remained determined to continue diplomatic efforts to end the war. He acknowledged that a lack of trust between the two sides remained a major obstacle but said Washington saw opportunities to make further progress.

Kushner announced that he and US special envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two US representatives intend to brief Putin on the discussions in Abu Dhabi and explore possible ways forward on the outstanding issues.

After the Moscow visit, the American envoys are expected to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They plan to discuss the proposals and ideas raised during the negotiations with the Ukrainian leader.

The planned meetings suggest that Washington intends to keep the diplomatic process moving despite the absence of a breakthrough in Abu Dhabi.

Territorial disputes and security guarantees remain major obstacles

According to Reuters and other international media reports, the negotiations produced some progress on humanitarian issues, but the two countries remain deeply divided over the central questions of a peace settlement.

One of the most difficult issues is the future of Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, particularly in the eastern Donbas region. Moscow has continued to demand territorial concessions, while Kyiv has rejected surrendering land as a condition for ending the war.

Security guarantees for Ukraine after a possible peace agreement also remain a major point of disagreement. Kyiv wants firm assurances against any future Russian attack, while the broader question of Europe's future security arrangements has become increasingly important in the discussions.

Reuters reported that US mediators identified a lack of trust between the two sides as a significant barrier. Despite public statements expressing optimism, there has so far been no indication of a major compromise on the principal issues separating Moscow and Kyiv.

Europe seeks a greater role in peace process

The Abu Dhabi negotiations also highlighted differences over the role European countries should play in efforts to end the war.

Several European representatives were present in the UAE capital for separate consultations, but they were not part of the main trilateral negotiations involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

European governments have argued that they must be involved in decisions concerning the future security of the continent, particularly because any agreement could have far-reaching consequences for European defence and regional stability.

The issue was also raised at the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris on November 9 and 10. In a joint declaration published on Wednesday, the G7 countries reiterated their support for US-led peace efforts and stressed that negotiations on Europe's future security must include European countries.

The statement also called for a comprehensive and reciprocal ceasefire, including a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea.

A long road to ending the war

The Abu Dhabi meeting was the first round of direct peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in nine months, according to international media reports. Expectations of a major breakthrough had been limited even before the negotiations began, given the deep differences between the two governments.

The war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, is approaching its fifth year. Despite repeated diplomatic initiatives and several prisoner exchanges, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on a lasting ceasefire or a comprehensive peace settlement.

The United States has repeatedly said it wants to bring the conflict to an end. However, the outcome of the Abu Dhabi negotiations indicates that significant disagreements remain over territory, security guarantees and the role of European countries.

For now, the planned prisoner exchange offers a limited humanitarian achievement, while the wider effort to end the war remains uncertain.