Ukraine, USA, Russia agree on exchange of 314 POWs – Witkoff

Ukrainian, American and Russian delegations at talks in Abu Dhabi (UAE) have agreed on an exchange of 314 prisoners between the Russian and Ukrainian sides, said US President Donald Trump’s special representative Stephen Witkoff, who is participating in the negotiations.

"Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners—the first such exchange in five months," Witkoff wrote on the social network X on Thursday.

He noted that "much work remains to be done," but such steps "demonstrate that continued diplomatic engagement produces tangible results and advances efforts to end the war in Ukraine."

Trump’s special representative also announced progress in the negotiations in the coming weeks, without specifying details.

"Discussions will continue, and additional progress is expected in the coming weeks," wrote Witkoff, thanking the UAE "for hosting these discussions."

As reported, bilateral (Ukraine-US) and trilateral (Ukraine-US-Russia) talks are taking place on February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi.

After the conclusion of the trilateral talks on Wednesday, work was carried out in groups. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that after the trilateral talks, there were contacts between the Ukrainian negotiating team and the American side. Following the results of the Ukrainian delegation’s report, the president announced an exchange of prisoners of war in the near future.

At the end of January, Zelenskyy updated the composition of the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the negotiation process with the United States and representatives of the Russian Federation on achieving a just and lasting peace. The Ukrainian delegation included the head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov and his first deputy Serhiy Kyslytsia, People’s Deputy David Arakhamia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksandr Bevz.

On the American side, the consultations were attended by special envoys of US President Donald Trump, Stephen Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Joshua Gruenbaum, as well as US Secretary of the Land Forces Daniel Driscoll and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Alex Hrynkevich. The Russian side was represented at the level of military leadership.