Kyiv and Moscow discussed in Abu Dhabi a prisoner exchange under the formula of '1,000 for 1,000' or '1,500 for 1,500'

Discussion of the prisoner exchange

On November 10, a new round of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, mediated by the US, began in Abu Dhabi. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the first day the Ukrainian and Russian delegations discussed a large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange under the formula of '1,000 for 1,000' or possibly '1,500 for 1,500'. He told journalists in Denmark, as reported by Anadolu; the exchange talks were also reported by Kun.uz.

Territories and Europe's role

Zelensky noted that the territorial issues were raised by the Russian side, but, in his words, such matters are decided at the level of heads of state, and the negotiators have the relevant mandates. The American delegation, he added, will travel to Russia with an agenda focused on the prisoner exchange. The president stressed the importance of European representatives' participation: they, like NATO delegates, were present in Abu Dhabi but did not sit directly at the negotiating table. 'We want the EU, the US and Ukraine to have a unified position,' the dpa agency quoted him as saying (based on Kun.uz materials).

Assessment of the situation at the front

Relying on the Ukrainian delegation's report, Zelensky stated that the Russian side has a distorted view of the situation on the battlefield: according to him, the Russians claimed to have occupied half of Donbas, although Ukraine in fact controls that territory. 'Putin lives in a different information environment. It is a distorted reality,' he said, adding that, in his view, the Russian leader is being given inaccurate data about the front.

What comes next

Zelensky said the parties will also discuss de-escalation measures, energy, the situation in the Black Sea, the prisoner exchange and the possibility of a trilateral meeting of leaders — possibly on Wednesday. The talks, which began on Tuesday, will resume on Wednesday. Asked whether they could yield a different outcome than previous diplomatic efforts, he replied: 'We do not trust, but we hope,' adding that greater pressure on Russia is needed. Previous rounds of US-mediated talks took place on January 23–24, February 4–5 and February 17–18: the first two in Abu Dhabi, the third in Geneva.