- The Washington Times - Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Ukraine and Russia agreed to a large-scale prisoner swap following the second round of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, according to the Russian delegation, even as major questions remain over security guarantees and territory.

Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, the chief Russian official at the talks, confirmed in remarks to Russian state television that the two sides had reached a mutual understanding on some issues and that further talks would be held.

It is unclear how many prisoners would be included in the reportedly agreed-upon swap.

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President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, one of the chief U.S. negotiators at the Abu Dhabi talks, with White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, told reporters after the trilateral meeting that the talks were “substantive” but “very tough.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, chairs the Security Council meeting in Moscow, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (Alexei Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, chairs the Security Council meeting in Moscow, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (Alexei Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, chairs … more >

He said most of the talks revolved around post-war security measures and guarantees. Mr. Kushner also implied that territorial issues had been discussed, which he described as “the hardest” to resolve.

Mr. Kushner added that he and Mr. Witkoff would travel Thursday to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin on what happened during the negotiations.


SEE ALSO: U.S., Russia, Ukraine conclude first round of talks in Abu Dhabi as Washington pushes for guarantees


The two diplomats will then meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin for discussions on how to build on the momentum of the trilateral meeting.

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