Russia and Ukraine exchanged 157 soldiers each during peace talks held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to statements from both sides. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the released Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus receiving medical and psychological support, while three Russian civilians from the Kursk region were also freed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of 157 Ukrainians, including soldiers and civilians, many of whom had been held since 2022. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said the two sides agreed on a broader exchange of 314 prisoners, marking the first such deal in five months.