Ukraine and Russia have conducted a rare exchange of prisoners of war and civilians after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 157 Ukrainians - seven of them civilians - and 157 Russian soldiers were returned home in the first such swap in four months.
Russian, Ukrainian and US teams took part in the talks in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, with the main sticking points believed to be territorial concessions Ukraine is under pressure to make and security guarantees for it to prevent further Russian attacks if a deal is agreed to end the four-year war.
No breakthrough has been reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the talks had not been easy and he wanted faster results.
The prisoner exchange was particularly significant as many of the released Ukrainians had been held captive since the war escalated in 2022.
Zelensky emphasized the government's commitment to bringing all Ukrainians back home, reaffirming the urgency of addressing the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry confirmed the return of its 157 soldiers and stated that three Russian civilians who were previously held by Ukraine have also been returned.
The recent discussions are part of ongoing efforts led by US officials to mediate an end to the conflict, but critical issues surrounding territory and security guarantees remain unresolved.
The situation continues to be tense as Russia intensifies its military actions, particularly targeting Ukraine’s energy sector amidst freezing winter conditions.
