Ukraine and Russia have conducted a rare exchange of prisoners of war and civilians after two days of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 157 Ukrainians - including seven civilians - and 157 Russian soldiers were returned home in the first such swap in four months.
Russian, Ukrainian and US teams participated in the talks, with the main sticking points believed to be territorial concessions Ukraine is under pressure to make, and security guarantees to prevent further Russian attacks if an agreement is reached to end the nearly four-year war.
No breakthroughs were reported, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating the discussions were not easy and expressing desires for faster results.
The prisoner exchange came as part of ongoing negotiations aimed at soothing tensions that have flared since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Zelensky indicated that Thursday's swap followed a lengthy hiatus, emphasizing the importance of returning Ukrainian personnel, many of whom had been detained since the early days of the conflict.
The exchange coincides with Russia's persistent military campaigns targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, and despite the progress in prisoner exchanges, major conflicts remain unresolved between the two nations regarding territory and future security.
US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, have been spearheading the peace discussions, which have been characterized by significant diplomatic activity but also ongoing military hostilities.
Despite efforts to broker a resolution, the peace talks have hit sticking points on key issues, notably concerning regions in the Donbas and the overall military security of Ukraine following an eventual ceasefire.
The recent wave of negotiations highlights the continued complexities surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict as both sides navigate the intricacies of diplomatic resolutions against a backdrop of ongoing warfare.
