Zelenskyy Eyes Biggest Prisoner Swap of Ukraine War After Talks With US Envoys

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was preparing for what could be the largest prisoner exchange since Russia’s full-scale invasion after meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Ireland. The two had travelled to Ireland after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

“Prisoners will be released, and we are counting on the largest prisoner exchange since the start of this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. He gave no date or number of prisoners to be exchanged.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would bring European representatives more directly into the diplomatic process so they could have “an equal seat at the negotiating table”. He added that further meetings involving several countries were being prepared.

US envoys say three-way talks are back on

The meetings in Moscow and Ireland followed two days of talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, the first such round since February. The discussions ended without a breakthrough, though Kyiv acknowledged progress on some issues, including preparations for a prisoner exchange.

Speaking to CNN before leaving Moscow, Witkoff said the three-way negotiations had resumed and another meeting had been scheduled. He also backed a role for European countries, calling them US partners whose involvement was important. Kushner said the detailed discussions in Moscow could help shape the next round of talks.

The Kremlin said Putin thanked the envoys and asked them to convey his appreciation to US President Donald Trump for facilitating contact with Kyiv. Putin also noted progress on humanitarian issues, including detainee exchanges. Witkoff told Putin that Trump wanted the conflict to end as quickly as possible, according to the Kremlin’s account.

Security guarantees remain a sticking point

Differences over territory and Ukraine’s future security remain unresolved. Putin reiterated that Moscow would oppose any foreign troop deployment in Ukraine after a peace agreement. “The presence of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory is absolutely unacceptable to us,” he said.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that talks with Ukraine and the United States would continue. He questioned whether European governments should join the negotiations, accusing them of taking steps that would prolong the war, CNN reported.

With inputs from ANI