In brief: Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange during talks in Abu Dhabi, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said, with details to be announced soon. He described European security as the central issue, reported common ground on some points, and praised US envoys while criticizing European governments.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said after a second day of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, without disclosing its size or timing.
Medinsky said the parameters would be announced soon, according to Russian media TASS.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
The announcement was the most concrete outcome he outlined in remarks that otherwise focused on European security, criticism of European governments, and praise for US President Donald Trump’s envoys.
Asked by reporters to disclose specifics of the negotiations, Medinsky said details would not be discussed publicly until final agreements had been reached.
Zelensky said the proposals under consideration included exchanges of 1,000 prisoners for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500.
Medinsky also struck a hard line on territory, saying, “Every inch of Russian land will be returned to Russia, one way or another.” He did not specify which territories he was referring to.
European security dominates discussions
Medinsky described the European security system as the central topic of the talks, saying the participants had found common ground on some points. He said Russia supported discussing how security would be maintained after the war ends and argued that the conflict had exposed serious weaknesses in Europe’s existing arrangements.
The system needed to be treated as a whole, he said, adding that “a Band-Aid won’t be enough.”
Kremlin Revives Old Ultimatum: Ukraine Can Join EU, But No Military Alliances
Any new security framework should be fair and should not come at the expense of other countries, Medinsky said.
Praise for US envoys, criticism of Europe
Medinsky praised Trump’s envoys as sincere and effective, saying Russia was grateful for their work. He urged European governments to learn from what he described as the Americans’ realism and desire for peace.
By contrast, he said the Russian delegation had held no discussions with European representatives in Abu Dhabi and that their status there was unclear.
Medinsky accused European governments of collectively deceiving Ukrainians and contributing to civilian deaths.
He also said Russia had received no proposals from European countries and questioned what Moscow would discuss with them. Europe could participate in peace negotiations once it developed a conscience, he said.
Medinsky added that Ukraine could join the EU but not NATO.
Russian representatives raised Moscow’s proposals for restructuring Europe’s security architecture, which Russian President Vladimir Putin presented during talks with then-US President Joe Biden in December 2021.
At the time, Moscow demanded, among other things, an end to NATO expansion, a reduction in the Alliance’s military presence in countries that joined after 1997, and restrictions on military cooperation with non-NATO post-Soviet states, including Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi was keeping Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly informed about the discussions.
Peskov also said the Russian delegation had held no contacts with European representatives in Abu Dhabi. According to him, the negotiations were also discussed during a meeting between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Ukrainian media, citing sources, reported that the agenda for the second day included a possible ceasefire, energy issues, and security in the Black Sea.
The first day of negotiations took place on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and lasted approximately 4.5 hours. The parties agreed to continue discussions the following day.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as constructive and substantive, while acknowledging the difficulty of reaching agreements with Russia. Zelensky said he had spoken with Ukraine’s negotiating team and described Wednesday, Nov. 11, as the most crucial day for negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who did not attend the meeting, also called the discussions productive but cautioned that much work remained.
Kateryna investigates today's most important topics, from geopolitical challenges and defense strategies to stories that change the course of events. She explores the secrets of Ukraine's intelligence services and shows the hidden side of global events. Her passion is uncovering secrets that change history. Born and lives in Kyiv.