RUSSIA-UKRAINE PRISONER DEAL: Biggest Swap Agreed, But Is Putin Serious About Peace? WATCH

In a major humanitarian development amid the Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow and Kyiv have agreed in principle to carry out what could become their biggest prisoner exchange since the conflict began. The announcement came after two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, involving Russian, Ukrainian and American delegations. U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, described the agreement as one of the biggest positive outcomes of the discussions. He said both sides had agreed to a major humanitarian release, with the exact number of prisoners expected to be finalized shortly. The development offers a rare moment of cooperation between the two countries, even as their nearly five-year war continues. The proposed exchange could involve between 1,000 and 1,500 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier revealed that negotiators were discussing a swap of 1,000 prisoners for 1,000, with the possibility of increasing the numbers to 1,500 on each side. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky also confirmed that both countries had reached an agreement in principle on a new large-scale prisoner exchange. However, the final numbers, categories of prisoners, and implementation schedule are yet to be officially confirmed. If completed at the proposed scale, the exchange would represent one of the most significant humanitarian arrangements since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Beyond the prisoner exchange, the Abu Dhabi negotiations also focused on the return of Ukrainian civilians held in Russian captivity and children taken from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said humanitarian issues remain central to the discussions, alongside security guarantees for Ukraine and the wider European region. The possibility of further de-escalation measures was also discussed, including issues concerning energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. Ukrainian negotiators described the discussions as constructive, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting productive. However, despite these positive developments, there was no announcement of a comprehensive agreement to end the war or establish a ceasefire. The negotiations were mediated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are leading Washington's renewed diplomatic push to end the conflict. Following the Abu Dhabi meetings, the American representatives were expected to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before proceeding to Dublin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, European representatives, including officials linked to the European Union and NATO, were also present in Abu Dhabi and held separate consultations with Ukraine's delegation. However, Moscow has opposed European participation in direct negotiations, creating another challenge for the broader diplomatic process. Despite the prisoner exchange agreement, the fundamental disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain unresolved. Russia continues to demand territorial concessions and changes to Ukraine's security arrangements, while Kyiv insists on protecting its sovereignty and securing credible guarantees against future Russian aggression. Meanwhile, fighting continues across the front lines, with both countries launching missile and drone attacks. Recent Russian strikes hit Ukraine's Zaporizhia region and Kharkiv, leaving civilians wounded and infrastructure damaged. Russia also reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones, with an attack causing a fire at the Ust-Luga oil export port. The proposed prisoner swap may bring relief to thousands of families, but whether the Abu Dhabi negotiations can translate humanitarian progress into a wider peace agreement remains the biggest question. If you liked this video, then like, share and subscribe to Mirror Now.