Ukraine expects Moscow-Kyiv prisoner swap ‘in near future’ amid negotiations in Abu Dhabi: Zelenskyy

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country expects a prisoner swap to take place between Moscow and Kyiv “in the near future,” as the two countries and the US hold talks in Abu Dhabi on a settlement for the nearly four-year war.

In an evening video address published late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said he received a report from Kyiv’s negotiating team on the trilateral talks in the UAE earlier that day, and that there were also consultations between the Ukrainian and the US side.

“We discussed the interim results of the negotiations for today. They will continue tomorrow (Thursday). There will also be a significant step: we expect a POW (prisoners of war) exchange in the near future. Captives must be brought home,” he said, without further details.

Russia and Ukraine last conducted a prisoner exchange on Oct. 2, 2025, as part of deals reached in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul, which hosted three rounds of direct peace talks earlier that year.

Zelenskyy’s address comes as the second round of trilateral talks began in the Emirati capital on Wednesday, which are also continuing on Thursday.

An initial two days of consultations were held between the two countries on Jan. 23-24, also in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of the US.

Both Kyiv and Washington described the first round of talks as “constructive," while Moscow said contacts have begun in a constructive manner, with "significant work ahead."