Hope flickers brighter for Ukraine’s war-weary as a 314-prisoner exchange gains approval from US, Russian, and Ukrainian teams. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff broke the news on X after marathon sessions in Abu Dhabi.
‘Fruit of extensive, effective peace parleys,’ Witkoff affirmed. ‘Much remains, yet these moves affirm diplomacy’s power in securing results and driving Ukraine peace efforts.’ Positive vibes from Abu Dhabi point to weekly progress ahead.
Rustem Umerov of Ukraine’s security council joined US facilitators and rivals from Moscow and Kyiv for Wednesday’s pivotal huddle in the UAE. Echoing last month’s tentative steps there, this extended dialogue prioritized prisoner releases over thornier topics.
The elephant in the room? Eastern territories. Rubio flagged land last week as the deadlock. Kremlin pushes for total Donbas handover by Ukraine, encompassing held zones. Kyiv demurs but Zelenskyy eyes workarounds: phased withdrawals, no-man’s-lands eastward.
Observers hail the deal as a humanitarian lifeline and diplomatic toehold. Abu Dhabi’s neutrality proves invaluable, with US steering vital. If nurtured, this could cascade into territorial compromises, halting bloodshed and stabilizing the region long-term.