A rare swap of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia took place this week, even as peace talks mediated by the United States concluded without agreement.
The exchange saw 157 Ukrainians, including seven civilians, return home, while Kyiv handed back 157 Russian soldiers. This marks the first such swap in four months, after negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving teams from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Officials said the discussions focused on territorial issues and security guarantees, but no resolution was reached.
President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the importance of the exchange and shared details on social media. “We are returning our people home – 157 Ukrainians. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Service.
And civilians are also returning with the defenders. Most have been in captivity since 2012,” he wrote. Zelensky added that his government would continue efforts to free all Ukrainians held by Russia.
Ukrainian authorities said 139 of those released had been detained since 2022. Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry confirmed the return of 157 of its soldiers and three civilians it described as “illegally held” in the western Kursk region, a territory briefly occupied by Ukraine during the 2024–25 incursion. The freed Russian troops are reported to be staying in Belarus.
The talks in Abu Dhabi were part of a renewed push led by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the conflict. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside Jared Kushner, has been overseeing the negotiations.
“The talks had been detailed and productive, but significant work remains,” Witkoff said, adding that the most challenging issues revolve around territory and security guarantees.
Russia continues to demand Ukraine cede the remaining areas of the Donbas region it does not control. Ukraine, on the other hand, is seeking robust assurances from the United States and European allies to prevent further attacks if a peace deal is agreed.
The prisoner swap occurred amid renewed Russian strikes on Ukraine following a short pause prompted by extreme cold, which Trump had asked President Vladimir Putin to observe. Moscow has targeted the energy sector, leaving thousands of Ukrainians without heat, electricity, and water in freezing temperatures. Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and the conflict shows little sign of ending soon.
