Zelenskyy says Abu Dhabi talks explored prisoner exchange of up to 1,500 per side
Negotiators discussed a large-scale prisoner exchange as Ukraine, the United States and Russia held talks covering territory, security guarantees and possible steps towards de-escalation.
By Hassan Ellis ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations in Abu Dhabi had included discussions about a prisoner-of-war exchange involving either 1,000 or 1,500 people on each side. The potential scale of the exchange was among the issues he outlined at a press conference following talks involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, negotiators were seeking to arrange an exchange on one of those two scales. He said American representatives would travel to Russia with a large-scale prisoner exchange on their agenda. His remarks described the options under discussion, rather than identifying which of the two proposed numbers would be used.
The first round of the trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi has concluded. During that round, held on 10 November, the parties agreed to carry out a large-scale prisoner exchange in the near future. Zelenskyy's account set out the possible numbers being considered for that exchange, alongside other subjects addressed by the delegations.
Territory was also discussed, with Zelenskyy saying the Russian side had raised the subject. He described it as a matter for the leaders to address and referred to the mandate given to Ukraine's negotiating team. He also stressed the importance of European representatives being present during the negotiations.
Zelenskyy identified membership of NATO and the European Union as another significant topic raised in Abu Dhabi. Looking ahead to Wednesday's discussions, he said the focus would shift more towards steps to reduce tensions, energy issues, the Black Sea and a possible trilateral meeting involving the leaders.
A source who spoke to Ukrainska Pravda said the opening round covered security guarantees and Russia's demands. The participants also touched on the post-war future, according to that account. Those subjects formed part of the broader discussions accompanying the talks on prisoners and territory.
Ukraine's delegation is headed by Rustem Umierov, chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Other representatives include Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President's Office, and Davyd Arakhamiia, who leads the Servant of the People parliamentary faction.
The Ukrainian team also includes Serhii Kyslytsia, first deputy head of the President's Office, and Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. The delegation is participating in the trilateral process whose opening round produced the agreement for a forthcoming prisoner exchange.
