The possible prisoner exchange could be the first tangible result of renewed negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the meeting also addressed the return of Ukrainian children and security guarantees, while Washington called it “very productive”. The talks continue on Wednesday.
The prisoner swap would take place in the near future, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source close to Ukraine’s delegation. No date or numbers were disclosed. The report points to a possible first outcome from the renewed negotiations, following an exchange of 270 prisoners from each side in late October.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting “very productive”, but cautioned: “Obviously, there is a lot of work to be done.” Mr Zelenskyy outlined the humanitarian discussions while visiting Denmark for talks on military support. His delegation was negotiating with Russian and US officials in Abu Dhabi.
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Security guarantees remain on the table
As EU Perspectives reported earlier, European officials met Ukraine and the US before the trilateral negotiations, seeking a role in any deal affecting Europe’s security. The Russian-Ukrainian talks are the first since February. No general ceasefire or peace settlement was announced.
In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that allowing Russia to emerge victorious could encourage Moscow to seize territory elsewhere, including in NATO countries. Ukraine is seeking guarantees that any settlement would protect it against another invasion.
Negotiations will continue on Wednesday. The reported prisoner exchange still awaits public confirmation, including how many people would be released and when.
