In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have finalized a deal to exchange 314 prisoners, marking the first such agreement in five months. U.S. Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced the development on Thursday, calling the outcome of this week's talks in Abu Dhabi "detailed and productive" while acknowledging that "significant work" remains to achieve lasting peace.
The agreement follows two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations that concluded on February 5, 2026, building on an initial round held in the UAE capital on January 24. While the earlier discussions yielded no concrete results, this week's talks demonstrated renewed momentum, with Witkoff stating that further progress is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Analysts suggest the prisoner swap could create a foundation for broader negotiations, though tensions persist over territorial disputes and security guarantees. The deal has drawn cautious optimism from global markets, particularly in energy and agriculture sectors impacted by the conflict.
