Trump's envoy reacts to Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Abu Dhabi
Photo: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (Getty Images)
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange prisoners of war and to restore a direct military communication channel between the United States and Russia as part of efforts to end the war, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
He said delegations from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia held a second trilateral meeting on February 4–5. The key practical outcome was the first prisoner exchange in five months, carried out in a 157-for-157 format.
Witkoff described the discussions as constructive and said the parties were focused on creating conditions for a sustainable peace.
"Over the two days, the delegations had wide-ranging discussions on the remaining open issues, including methods to implement a ceasefire and monitor the cessation of military activities," the Special Envoy noted.
Direct US-Russia military channel
A significant step, he said, was the decision to restore a direct line of communication between the US and Russian military leadership. The channel will be led by General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command.
"This channel of communication was suspended prior to the onset of this conflict and is crucial to achieving and maintaining peace," Witkoff noted in his post.
Participants also agreed to brief their respective capitals on the results of the talks and to continue trilateral negotiations in the coming weeks.
Ukraine and Russia thanked former US President Donald Trump for his leadership in the peace process.
Peace talks in the UAE
The second round of trilateral consultations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia took place on February 4–5 in the United Arab Emirates. The talks were held in working groups that worked five hours a day.
The main outcome of the meeting was an agreement on the exchange of prisoners—a total of 314 people, 157 from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the result as significant, and on February 5, 157 Ukrainian servicemen returned home.
The talks also addressed mechanisms for implementing a ceasefire, according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.
