Abu Dhabi(The COW News Digital) Russia and Ukraine have completed a major prisoner exchange of over 300 personnel following two days of talks in the United Arab Emirates, but no breakthrough has yet been achieved toward ending the ongoing war.
According to AFP, the negotiations involved delegations from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, with the prisoner swap described by the U.S. mediator as the first significant exchange in five months. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that a total of 314 prisoners were agreed to be exchanged, later verified by the Russian Ministry of Defense as 157 prisoners from each side.
Witkoff described the talks as “detailed and constructive,” but emphasized that “significant and difficult work remains” before a comprehensive resolution to the conflict can be reached. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev also described the discussions as a step forward, though no concrete progress on the war’s end was reported.
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Despite the exchange, regional tensions remain unresolved, with Russia showing no signs of softening its demands. Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continued during the talks, leaving large areas of Kyiv without power and heating amid severe winter conditions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Wednesday that at least 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the conflict began in February 2022, while Russia has yet to release official casualty figures. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the war would continue until Kyiv meets Russia’s conditions.
The core issues remain contentious: Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas region and recognition of territories currently under Russian control, while Ukraine insists on freezing the conflict along the present frontlines. Analysts warn that unless both sides show flexibility, the deadlock is likely to persist despite diplomatic efforts.
The prisoner swap, while a positive humanitarian step, underscores the complexity of resolving one of Europe’s most intractable conflicts. International observers say the exchange may serve as a confidence-building measure, but the larger political and territorial disputes continue to stall any path to peace.
As winter continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs in Ukraine, the international community is calling for renewed dialogue, but the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation in the near term.
