Delegations from Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, to conduct a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war. The decision followed two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which marked the first formal meeting between the two sides in nine months. Jared Kushner, an advisor to President Donald Trump, stated that the parties agreed to the "biggest humanitarian release" of the conflict, with final numbers expected to be established on Thursday.
The talks were the first since February 2026, when previous diplomatic efforts were interrupted by regional conflict involving Iran. Since that time, the conflict has reached a near-stalemate on the front lines, though both nations have continued long-range drone and missile strikes. During the negotiations, Russia reported downing 627 Ukrainian drones, while Russian strikes were reported in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions.
The exchange is expected to involve more than 1,000 prisoners from each side, according to Russian Lieutenant-General Alexander Zorin, who estimated the transfer could occur within two to three weeks. In addition to military prisoners, the delegations discussed the return of Ukrainian civilians and children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the sessions as "constructive and quite substantive," while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that while the meeting was productive, a full resolution to the war would require more time.
The scale of the exchange—exceeding 1,000 people per side—marks a shift in humanitarian coordination during a war that has lasted nearly five years. The involvement of high-level U.S. representatives like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff indicates a push by the Trump administration to mediate the conflict before a new U.S. Congress takes office in January. This mediation occurred despite Russian objections to the presence of European, EU, and NATO officials, who consulted with the Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi.
What happens next: Kushner and Witkoff are scheduled to travel to Moscow on Thursday, Nov. 12, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following that meeting, the U.S. delegation will fly to Dublin to meet with President Zelenskyy. While humanitarian agreements were reached, the parties remain divided on core issues such as territory and security guarantees. A specific date for the physical transfer of prisoners has not been finalized, though Zorin indicated a window of 14 to 21 days for implementation.