Abu Dhabi talks yield prisoner deal, no peace breakthrough

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, November 12, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin, after two days of Abu Dhabi talks produced an agreement in principle on a large prisoner exchange but no reported breakthrough toward ending the war.

Kushner said the parties had agreed to what he described as their biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, with the numbers to be finalized later. No total or timing for the exchange had been announced. Zelensky said a possible exchange could involve 1,000 prisoners for 1,000, or perhaps 1,200, while Kyiv awaited Moscow’s response.

The Abu Dhabi discussions, mediated by the United States, brought Russian and Ukrainian representatives together over two days. Kushner described the talks as tough and said the envoys would review the issues with Putin and seek progress on areas where they saw openings. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia called the round one of the toughest and said Russia’s delegation arrived with strict directives.

The scheduled Moscow meeting is to be followed by the envoys’ travel to Dublin for talks with Zelensky. The Ukrainian...