Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners — the first such swap in five months — U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said. The deal came out of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi that Witkoff described as "detailed and productive." Kyiv called the opening day "productive," and officials said negotiations will continue with further progress expected in the coming weeks. No breakdown was provided of how many prisoners each side will transfer.
U.S., Ukraine and Russia Agree To Exchange 314 Prisoners After U.S.-Brokered Talks, Envoy Says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 314 prisoners — the first such swap in five months — U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday, while cautioning that substantial work remains to end the war in Ukraine.
Witkoff wrote on X that the outcome was the product of "detailed and productive" negotiations held in Abu Dhabi and brokered by the United States. He described the agreement as a tangible result of sustained diplomatic engagement and said discussions would continue, with further progress expected in the coming weeks.
Kyiv's lead negotiator called the opening day of the U.S.-brokered talks "productive," even as fighting continued in what has been described as the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said earlier that Kyiv expected the talks to produce a new prisoner exchange.
"Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners—the first such exchange in five months," Witkoff wrote on X.
The envoy did not disclose how many prisoners each side will transfer as part of the 314-person exchange, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
While the agreement marks a notable step toward confidence-building, officials emphasized that it is one of many measures needed to move toward a broader settlement. Negotiators said talks will continue in the coming weeks to seek further progress.
(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Sharon Singleton)
Help us improve.
