Russia and Ukraine agree to largest prisoner swap of the war
Russia and Ukraine agreed to their largest prisoner exchange yet after talks in Abu Dhabi, with release possible in two to three weeks.
The two sides confirmed the deal after two days of US-mediated talks. Kushner said it would be the biggest prisoner release, with final numbers confirmed Wednesday.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky and delegation head Rustem Umerov backed the agreement. The deal marks the first real progress in nine months.
US envoys will travel to Moscow to brief Putin, then to Dublin to meet Zelenskiy.
- Nine months
- Months since last talks
- Two to three weeks
- Timeframe for swap
- Nearly five years
- War duration
Why it mattersA breakthrough on prisoners amid a nearly five-year war offers rare diplomatic progress and signals both sides may be edging toward broader talks.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though any Russia-Ukraine peace progress affects global stability and energy costs Australians pay.
