Agreement to exchange 314 POWs between Ukraine and Russia reached at talks in Abu Dhabi

STANISLAV POHORILOV - 5 February, 12:36

US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Photo: Getty Images

US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has said that an agreement has been reached during trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States to exchange 314 prisoners of war.

Source: Witkoff on X (Twitter)

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

Details: Witkoff said that the agreement was reached as a result of detailed and productive peace negotiations.

"While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine," he noted.

Witkoff also said that "discussions will continue, with additional progress anticipated in the coming weeks".

Background:

Earlier, following the first round of talks in Abu Dhabi with Russian and US delegations, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a prisoner exchange was expected to take place in the near future.
On 30 January, Zelenskyy stated that Russia had halted prisoner exchanges because it did not feel they brought it any benefit.
The last prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place in autumn 2025. On 2 October, 185 Ukrainian soldiers and 20 civilians were freed from Russian captivity.
In December 2025, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that more than 10,000 Russian soldiers had been taken prisoner since the start of the full-scale invasion.

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