Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to exchange prisoners after U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, leaving the scale and timing unsettled as negotiators work through the terms.
Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky described the arrangement as an agreement in principle, with its parameters still pending, Anadolu Agency reported. Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov also confirmed the sides had agreed, the Associated Press reported. U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner said figures were expected to be finalized Nov. 12, the AP reported. No prisoner count or transfer date was announced; Nov. 12 is the expected date for finalizing the figures, not for the exchange.
The United Arab Emirates' Foreign Ministry said the round opened Nov. 10, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan present. It said the UAE was supporting U.S. efforts to advance dialogue toward a political solution. Anadolu Agency reported on Nov. 11 that Umerov confirmed in a Telegram post that talks had resumed for a second day. Anadolu Agency reported that he said a separate meeting with European representatives was planned after the trilateral session.
Before the talks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would propose steps to ease tensions and seek a way to arrange a meeting among the three countries' leaders. He also called for security guarantees and resources for postwar recovery.
Representatives of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States and NATO met before the trilateral session, a joint statement said. The signatories said any eventual arrangement should preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and ability to make its own decisions, and include credible security guarantees.
Kushner said the figures were expected to be finalized Nov. 12. The exchange itself has no announced date.
