Who brokered the prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia?

The swap was brokered by the United States, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announcing the agreement during talks in Abu Dhabi, mediated by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.

What are the details of the prisoner exchange, including numbers and types of prisoners?

Ukraine and Russia exchanged 314 prisoners total—157 Ukrainians (including soldiers and seven civilians, some held since 2022) for 157 Russians (servicemen and three civilians from Kursk).

When was the last prisoner exchange before this one?

The previous prisoner exchange occurred on October 2, 2025, marking this as the first in five months.

What was the context of the talks in Abu Dhabi?

The swap followed two days of U.S.-brokered trilateral talks aimed at broader peace efforts, which were productive on humanitarian issues but stalled on territorial concessions and security guarantees.

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18d ago

Ukraine and Russia Complete 314-Person Prisoner Swap in Abu Dhabi

Kyiv and Moscow exchanged 314 prisoners — 157 Ukrainians and 157 Russians — after U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 5, 2026.

Overview

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U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Feb. 5, 2026, that Kyiv and Moscow completed a prisoner exchange of 314 people, with 157 Ukrainians and 157 Russians returned after U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi.

The swap followed two days of negotiations in Abu Dhabi intended to advance broader peace talks but stalled over territorial concessions and security guarantees, issues negotiators and officials said remain unresolved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that most of the 157 Ukrainian prisoners had been held since 2022 and he pledged to bring back every Ukrainian still in Russian captivity.

The exchange involved 314 people — 157 Ukrainians, including seven civilians, and 157 Russians — and Ukraine's ministry said three Russian civilians "illegally held" were also returned, according to Kyiv officials.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said additional progress could follow in coming weeks and a U.S. statement said U.S. and Russian negotiators agreed to reestablish high-level military-to-military dialogue.

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Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources frame the swap as overshadowed by territorial bargaining, stressing Russia's demand for Donbas and Ukraine's being under 'pressure' to concede. Language choices like "incursion" and "occupied," together with selecting and placing the president's return quote amid territorial details, emphasize security/territory over humanitarian or diplomatic angles.

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: The swap was brokered by the United States, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announcing the agreement during talks in Abu Dhabi, mediated by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.
Sources:
i24NEWS
: Ukraine and Russia exchanged 314 prisoners total—157 Ukrainians (including soldiers and seven civilians, some held since 2022) for 157 Russians (servicemen and three civilians from Kursk).
Sources:
i24NEWS
: The previous prisoner exchange occurred on October 2, 2025, marking this as the first in five months.
Sources:
CBS News
: The swap followed two days of U.S.-brokered trilateral talks aimed at broader peace efforts, which were productive on humanitarian issues but stalled on territorial concessions and security guarantees.
Sources:
ABC News