U.S. Envoys Reach Prisoner Exchange Deal, Meet Putin in Moscow

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday following two days of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi that produced an agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner exchange but no broader diplomatic breakthrough.

Delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States met in the capital of the United Arab Emirates on November 10 and 11 for the first trilateral discussions since February. The sessions focused primarily on security guarantees and the conflict’s nearly five-year toll. While the two days of talks in Abu Dhabi failed to bridge deep divides over territorial control and political settlements, negotiators reached an agreement in principle on a prisoner exchange.

Jared Kushner noted on social media that the exchange “will reunite families, build trust, and create momentum toward peace.” This was the fourth round of talks between the two warring nations brokered by the Trump administration, and the first since those in Geneva this February. The talks in Abu Dhabi also featured the Russian delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky.

Following the Abu Dhabi sessions, Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Moscow to brief Putin on the talks. During the meeting, Putin agreed to permit European representatives to join the next round of peace discussions, though he cautioned that Washington must work with its European allies to clarify their intentions regarding the conflict.

Putin warned that any post-deal deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine would trigger a resumption of the war because Russia would see that as a threat to its own security. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated following the briefings that the current stance of European countries on Ukraine amounted to a recipe for endless war.

‘No concession’: What to expect from Russia-US-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi — Photo: Al Jazeera

Ahead of the meetings, Russian forces downed 71 Ukrainian drones overnight, while separate missile and guided-bomb strikes caused casualties in Kyiv and Komyshuvakha.

Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of European inclusion, stating that the war is situated on the European continent and that “we cannot conclude this deal without Europeans being at the table.” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the move as a sweep of stinging new sanctions to turn the screws on Russia’s oil revenues and drive forward an end to the Kremlin’s needless war, while Kaja Kallas pointed to existing frameworks like the Helsinki accords and Budapest memorandum.

U.S. Envoys Reach Prisoner Exchange Deal, Meet Putin in Moscow — Photo: State

Ukrainian officials continued to press for concrete security guarantees from international partners to prevent future attacks, while analysts said that the fundamental impasse remains rooted in mutually exclusive goals. As the diplomatic track proceeds alongside ongoing fighting and energy site attacks, both sides continue to navigate stark disagreements regarding NATO membership bids and territorial concessions.

Earlier coverage: U.S. Envoys Say Europe to Join Ukraine Peace Talks After Putin Meeting