Zelensky provided the information in a message on Telegram after a meeting with the Ukrainian participants in the talks.
“There will also be an important step: we expect an exchange of prisoners of war in the near future. The prisoners must be brought home” – he wrote. He added that he listened to the reports of the head of the delegation, Rustem Umerov, the head of the Presidential Office, Kyryl Budanov, and the leader of the ruling faction in parliament, Davyd Arachamia.
What were the results of the talks in Abu Dhabi?
Does Ukraine plan to exchange prisoners of war?
When will talks continue?
What is Zelensky's position towards Russia?
Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine's talks with the USA and Russia
The president announced that Wednesday's meetings had brought the first, although still indirect, results. “We discussed the intermediate results of the negotiations that day. Talks will continue tomorrow (Thursday)” – he noted. In turn, Umerov said earlier that the work in Abu Dhabi was of a concrete and practical nature. “The work was substantive and productive, focused on specific steps and practical solutions“- he said.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is not changing its approach to possible peace talks. “The war must realistically end. Russia must be ready for this“, he said. At the same time, he called on Kiev's partners to provide assurances “real security guarantees” and to exert “real pressure on the aggressor”so that Ukrainians can feel that the situation is actually heading towards peace.
Ukraine maintains its position towards Russia. “There shouldn't be any rewards”
The Ukrainian president also warned against too far-reaching concessions to Moscow. “There should be no rewards for the aggressor. If there is any reward for the aggressor, Russia will break any agreement over time“- he emphasized.
The office of the President of Ukraine confirmed that on Thursday, the delegations will meet again in Abu Dhabi. The topics of the talks are to remain both humanitarian issues, including the exchange of prisoners, and broader issues related to possible ways to end the war.
