Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Nov. 12 after AP and Interfax reported an in-principle Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi.
The Kremlin’s official transcript lists the meeting. It followed two days of U.S.-mediated discussions in Abu Dhabi among Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives on Nov. 10-11. AP and Interfax reported that Russia and Ukraine had agreed in principle to a large prisoner exchange. Interfax cited Russian official Alexander Zorin as saying the arrangement would cover more than 1,000 prisoners on each side, while AP said no final figure had been announced. EconoTimes had previously reported that the envoys planned to discuss the exchange’s size in Moscow.
The Associated Press described the Abu Dhabi sessions as the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in nine months. It said the meetings produced no major advance toward a broader peace settlement. AP and Hindustan Times reported that Ukraine’s security guarantees, territory under Russian occupation and Europe’s role in the diplomatic process remained central points in negotiations. The proposed exchange did not settle those wider political questions.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov characterized the Moscow talks as productive and candid, AP reported. The agency said Putin opposed a possible deployment of European troops in Ukraine after a cease-fire. Anadolu and Hindustan Times reported that Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev greeted the delegation at Vnukovo Airport.
AP has reported that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners during the war. The latest arrangement remained at the in-principle stage, with no final count announced.
After Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Dublin for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, AP reported. AP also reported an announcement of another round, with Europe expected to take part; it gave no date or list of participating countries.
