Abu Dhabi talks conclude with prisoner exchange agreement, continued field escalation in Ukraine

The two-day talks between Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations, aimed at finding a solution to the war in Ukraine, concluded today, Thursday, in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, according to a Ukrainian spokeswoman. Diana Davityan, spokeswoman for the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, told reporters: "The negotiations have ended," noting that Kyiv will announce further details later.

Steve Witkoff, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, had stated that delegations representing the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners, adding that much work still needs to be done to end the war. Witkoff wrote in a post on the X platform: "Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners, the first such exchange in five months."

Witkoff added: "This outcome was achieved through detailed and productive peace talks. While much work remains to be done, steps like these prove that sustained diplomatic engagement yields tangible results and advances efforts to end the war in Ukraine." He continued that discussions would continue, with further progress expected in the coming weeks.

For his part, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said there was progress and positive movement in the talks, while chief Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov affirmed that the discussions were beneficial and focused on concrete steps and practical solutions. This round came under pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration to reach a consensus, despite continued disagreements on key issues, most notably Moscow's demands for Kyiv to cede territory in Donetsk and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

On the ground, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, experienced another night of Russian escalation, including drone and missile strikes targeting Ukrainian territory. Sources reported damage to a multi-story residential building as a result of debris from drones hitting the Ukrainian capital during the night hours, where residents experienced a real night of terror after hearing multiple explosions in different neighborhoods.

According to local authorities, a number of civilians were injured as a result of this attack, while the Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russian forces used two ballistic missiles and more than 180 drones in the attack. The Air Force confirmed that its air defenses shot down more than 150 drones, but the two missiles and a number of drones hit their targets in 16 locations inside Ukraine, further complicating the energy and electricity situation.

For its part, the Ukrainian army said today, Thursday, that it carried out a series of "successful" strikes on the infrastructure of a Russian medium-range ballistic missile launch site last January. The Ukrainian General Staff said that some buildings were damaged and one of the hangars at the Kapustin Yar test site near the Caspian Sea was severely damaged, noting the use of the Ukrainian-made "Flamingo" missile in these operations.

Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners, the first such exchange in five months.