Ukraine, Russia agree on 314 POW swap

Ukraine, Russia agree on 314 POW swap

KYIV, Ukraine, Feb. 5 — Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners of war after a second round of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, with the swap carried out Thursday, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said, according to Reuters and UPI. Deutsche Welle also reported the 314-prisoner agreement.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 157 Ukrainians — soldiers and civilians — returned home in the exchange and that it followed a long pause since the previous swap in October, details confirmed by Euronews and Reuters.

Talks to continue

Witkoff said the talks were detailed and productive and that discussions would continue, while Zelenskyy said another meeting would take place soon, per UPI and Reuters.

Ukraine has insisted any settlement include strong security guarantees, while Russia says the door to peace remains open but argues Kyiv must make key decisions, signaling major gaps remain, according to Reuters and the Guardian.

Territory and terms

Reuters said Moscow wants Kyiv to pull its forces from the Donetsk region, a demand Ukraine rejects as it calls for freezing the conflict along current frontlines; Reuters, and Euronews described Russia’s insistence on control over eastern territories.

Euronews reported Russia is pressing for recognition of its control over Donetsk and Luhansk, while Reuters noted Kyiv’s resistance to unilateral withdrawals, underscoring how far apart the sides remain on territorial issues.

War continues

The talks occurred as Russia continued air strikes and drone attacks on Ukraine, a pattern noted by Reuters and the Guardian amid the negotiating sessions.

Ukrainian leaders warned the diplomacy must lead to real peace, not a pause that lets Moscow regroup, and urged partners to keep up pressure, according to the Guardian and UPI.

For now, the prisoner swap is the only concrete outcome, but diplomats on all sides say further sessions are planned in the coming weeks, according to Reuters and UPI.