Russia and Ukraine comply with a big change of prisoners of conflict, officers say : NPR
Rustem Umerov, Head of Overseas Intelligence Service of Ukraine, third from the best, speaks through the coordination assembly earlier than the trilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine mediated by the US in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
Altaf Qadri/AP
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Altaf Qadri/AP
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Officers at U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine stated Wednesday that the perimeters have agreed a big change of prisoners of conflict.
“One of many positives is we agreed that we will have the most important humanitarian launch of prisoners, which we will finalize the numbers tomorrow,” Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, stated after the 2 days of talks in Abu Dhabi ended.
Vladimir Medinsky, the pinnacle of the Russian delegation, and Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation in Abu Dhabi, confirmed the deliberate change.
Hopes have been low for any main breakthrough within the first assembly in 9 months between the delegations. Russia and Ukraine have every so often swapped prisoners throughout their almost five-year conflict.
U.S. officers say they’re decided to revive Washington’s peace efforts that to this point have didn’t ship important outcomes.
Kushner says he and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will journey to Moscow on Thursday to fulfill with President Vladimir Putin, then fly to Dublin to fulfill with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The context of the negotiations has modified because the final assembly in February in Geneva. The Trump administration has to reckon with Democrats, who might demand extra assist for Ukraine, taking up the U.S. Congress in January following the U.S. midterm elections.
Additionally, Russia’s wartime financial system is below heavy pressure, and Ukraine is reeling from devastating aerial assaults on its energy grid.
Umerov stated Kyiv’s delegation is predicted to fulfill Wednesday with European officers.
Moscow does not need European international locations, that are involved about Russia’s conduct and broader intentions on the continent, concerned within the direct negotiations. Nonetheless, representatives of European governments, the European Union and NATO have been in Abu Dhabi and have been consulting with the Ukrainian delegation, officers stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Tuesday’s session was “constructive and fairly substantive.”
The talks have been largely about humanitarian points, together with attainable prisoner exchanges and returning Ukrainian civilians in captivity, in addition to youngsters taken from the nation, he stated.
Safety ensures additionally have been mentioned, he stated. Nonetheless, Russia and Ukraine have proven no signal of a willingness to compromise on their calls for.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to as the assembly “very productive,” whereas cautioning {that a} breakthrough on stopping the conflict will take time.
The Abu Dhabi talks are being held in opposition to the backdrop of continued combating on the entrance line, the place little territory has modified fingers this 12 months.
In the meantime, each international locations are battering one another with long-range missiles and drones.
In a single day, Russia struck the southern Zaporizhzhia area and the japanese metropolis of Kharkiv, wounding seven civilians and damaging property.
Russia’s Protection Ministry stated that air defenses downed 627 Ukrainian drones in a single day, 150 of them over the area round St. Petersburg, based on the regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko.
He stated that the drones began a fireplace on the port of Ust-Luga, one of many essential services for Russian oil exports, injuring three staff.
