In brief
Ukraine and Russia executed a significant prisoner swap involving 157 individuals from each side after two days of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Despite this exchange, the negotiations failed to resolve critical issues, particularly concerning territorial concessions and security guarantees. Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasized the need for swifter outcomes from the discussions, as the situation remains precarious following Russia's latest military escalations against Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia have conducted a rare exchange of prisoners of war and civilians after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 157 Ukrainians - seven of them civilians - and 157 Russian soldiers were returned home in the first such swap in four months.
Russian, Ukrainian and US teams took part in the talks in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, with the main sticking points believed to be territorial concessions Ukraine is under pressure to make and security guarantees for it to prevent further Russian attacks if a deal is agreed to end the four-year war.
No breakthrough has been reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the talks had not been easy and he wanted faster results.
In a post on social media, Zelensky wrote that Thursday's prisoner exchange took place after a long pause - referring to the previous such swap last October.
We are returning our people home - 157 Ukrainians. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Service. And civilians are also returning with the defenders. Most have been in captivity since 2022, the Ukrainian president said, pledging to bring back every single Ukrainian still in Russian captivity.
Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry stated that 157 of its POWs were returned by Kyiv, adding that three Russian civilians were also handed back.
The trilateral talks began as Russia renewed its deadly attacks on Ukraine, targeting the country's energy sector, leaving thousands without electricity, heating, and water in freezing temperatures.
The most difficult issue is territory, with Russia demanding that Ukraine cedes parts of the eastern industrial region of Donbas. Amid the ongoing conflict and stalled peace talks, the situation remains dire for many in Ukraine.
