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Abu Dhabi talks: a prisoner swap of up to 1,500 each is on the table as day two begins
Ukraine's presidency says day one of the Abu Dhabi talks was mainly humanitarian, with a prisoner swap of 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500 discussed. No deal or date was announced. Day two covers de-escalation, energy, the Black Sea and a possible leaders' meeting.
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Ukraine's presidency says the first day of the Abu Dhabi talks on 10 November 2026 was mainly about humanitarian questions, and that a large prisoner exchange is under discussion in two possible sizes: 1,000 prisoners for 1,000, or 1,500 for 1,500. The Office of the President of Ukraine reported progress on the swap, but no signed agreement, date or final number had been announced when this was written, and no readout of the second day, Wednesday 11 November, was available. This report is for information only. It sets out what the Ukrainian side has said, what is still open and what the second day is meant to cover.
What Ukraine's presidency reported
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the talks were largely about humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian civilians held in captivity and the return of children taken from Ukraine. His office said that a large exchange of prisoners had been discussed in two formats, 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500, and later reported progress on another exchange. Some Ukrainian outlets went further and said the parties had agreed in principle on a large exchange in the near future. The president's office has not described it as a concluded deal.
The first day lasted a little under five hours by some counts and about four by others. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, met the American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and representatives of European governments and NATO before the main session with the Russian delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky. Russia had said it saw no place for Europeans in the three-way meeting.
The American side described the day in positive terms. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting very productive, according to reports, and Kushner had said earlier that he believed there were some good ideas to bridge the differences. The Kremlin had said before the talks that they would be trilateral, between Russia and Ukraine with American mediation, and its delegation leader said he hoped the meeting would help advance the path towards peace.
What is agreed and what is not
| Item | Position after day one |
|---|---|
| Prisoner exchange | Under discussion at 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500; no date or final figure announced |
| Return of civilians and children | Raised by Ukraine; no agreement reported |
| Ceasefire | None agreed |
| Territory and security guarantees | No reported change in positions |
| Next session | Wednesday 11 November |
The exchange would be the largest of the year if it goes ahead at either size. Earlier rounds in Abu Dhabi produced a swap of 314 prisoners, 157 from each side, agreed in February. Exchanges have often been announced and carried out within days of talks, but their size and timing have usually been settled between the parties' coordinating bodies and not in the room, so the figures could still change.
The agenda for day two
Zelensky said the delegations would discuss in more detail on Wednesday de-escalation steps, energy issues, the situation in the Black Sea, the prisoner exchange and a possible trilateral meeting. A trilateral meeting would be at a higher level than the current delegations, though the reports do not say who would attend.
The wider gap has not moved. Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw from the four regions it claimed to annex in 2022 and to drop its NATO bid, and President Vladimir Putin has refused a general halt in fighting before a comprehensive deal. Ukraine says a ceasefire should come first and rejects giving up land voluntarily. The White House has said the talks centre on future security guarantees, and an unnamed American official said both sides had shown some private flexibility on territory, with any such deal likely to come last.
The fighting has continued around the talks. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 162 drones and a ballistic missile overnight before the first session, and Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 155 Ukrainian drones. What to watch on Wednesday is whether a figure and date for the swap are announced, whether the talks produce any statement on de-escalation at sea or on energy, and whether a higher-level meeting is confirmed.
The delegations are larger than in earlier rounds. Ukraine's team includes, besides Umerov, the head of the president's office, Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Sergiy Kyslytsya and the parliamentary faction leader Davyd Arakhamia. Russia's includes deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, the military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and Yuri Zhigarlovsky of the General Staff, with Medinsky as head. NATO's commander, General Alexus Grynkewich, attended on the American side and spoke of progress in earlier military-to-military contacts. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he did not have high expectations, and France said no lasting peace was possible without European security being addressed. Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, welcomed the American proposal to put collective security at the top of the agenda, which is the framework the White House has set for the talks.
Sources
About the Author
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Reyaansh Agarawal
Staff Writer
Reyaansh Agarawal contributes to Wirony, covering stories that are carefully reviewed and approved by the editorial team before publication. Wirony is committed to maintaining tran…
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