Russia-Ukraine-US Talks End Without Breakthrough, Eyeing Large POW Swap After 2 Days
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Nov 11
Russia-Ukraine-US Talks End Without Breakthrough, Eyeing Large POW Swap After 2 Days
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Nov 11
Summary
Abu Dhabi talks ended after two days with no breakthrough on ending the nearly five-year war, though all sides signaled enough progress to pursue a second round.
A large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange emerged as the clearest near-term outcome, while US officials said they saw "some openings" despite Ukraine describing the negotiations as among the hardest yet.
Thursday's next step shifts to Moscow and Dublin, where US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky after Abu Dhabi discussions on Europe's post-war security architecture.
Donetsk and sequencing remain the main obstacles: Kyiv and European partners want a ceasefire before broader security talks, while Moscow insists fighting stops only after agreement on territory and other bilateral issues.
Europe's role is still unsettled, with EU and Nato representatives present in Abu Dhabi but excluded from direct contact with Russia even as Washington says bringing Europeans into the format is on the agenda.