Russia and Ukraine Open a Second Day of US-Mediated Talks in Abu Dhabi After a Reported Prisoner-Swap Understanding

Zelenskyy called the day constructive and quite substantive and said the discussions were largely humanitarian, covering prisoner exchanges, the return of civilians in captivity and children taken from Ukraine. A senior Ukrainian official told AP the sides discussed a large-scale prisoner swap, with details due in the coming days. Interfax-Ukraine went further, saying the parties agreed to an exchange of 1,000 for 1,000 or more in the near future, a figure not confirmed in the AP account. Kushner said the aim is a new framework and that there are good ideas for bridging the differences.

Where do Russia and Ukraine still disagree?

Territory, and the shape of any ceasefire. Per AP, Moscow wants Ukraine to withdraw from four regions it annexed in 2022, abandon its NATO bid and accept limits on its military, and it opposes a general halt to the fighting. Kyiv wants an immediate ceasefire and a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, and rejects ceding land or capping its forces. Al Jazeera reported that a US official said both sides had privately shown some flexibility on occupied territory, and that any land agreement would most likely come last, after security guarantees are settled. Russia says Europeans have no place in the trilateral format, though it has said EU representatives could join later.

What is happening on the front line while they talk?

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 162 drones and a ballistic missile overnight into Tuesday, while Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 155 Ukrainian drones over eight regions and Crimea, according to AP. On Wednesday, Leningrad governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said 92 drones were shot down over his region and a drone attack started a fire at Ust-Luga port, France 24's live blog recorded. Ukraine's prime minister said Russia hit six large substations in four central regions. Casualty figures for these strikes were not given.

The pressure on both delegations is a calendar one: analyst Ilya Timtchenko told Al Jazeera the US may push for progress before the new Congress convenes. The swap, if it happens, would be the first concrete result of the week; territory would be the last.