Ukraine, Russia Discuss Exchange of Up to 1,500 Prisoners Each as Moscow Raises Territory Issues

The Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams discussed a possible exchange of either 1,000 or 1,500 prisoners of war (POWs) each during the first day of US-mediated trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Nov. 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Speaking during a press conference in Copenhagen, Zelensky said that he had spoken with Ukraine’s negotiators, noting that Wednesday, Nov. 11, would be the most crucial day of the negotiations. De-escalation steps, including on energy and the Black Sea, and a possible trilateral summit, remain on the agenda.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Russian delegation also raised the issue of territory, which Zelensky said is a matter to be decided at the level of leaders, Interfax-Ukraine reported. According to RBC-Ukraine, Zelensky argued that the pressure on Russia remains insufficient. While acknowledging Washington’s effort, he said tougher pressure and less business with Moscow would prove more effective. The president also reiterated the importance of European involvement in the process. Senior US envoy Jared Kushner, who represents Washington alongside envoy Steve Witkoff, wrote in a separate statement on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that the American side was “encouraged by the constructive discussions today.” The US is “working to end this devastating war and establish the security arrangements necessary for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine and lasting peace across Europe,” he added. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Upgrades Pluton System to Detect Mesh Modems in Russian Drones Ukraine has announced an upgrade to its Pluton drone detection system, allowing it to detect mesh modems being used to control Russian drones. Earlier today, Zelensky described the first day as substantive and constructive, naming the release of prisoners as Kyiv’s priority. The negotiations ended after 4.5 hours, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported, citing a source. The talks reportedly began at around 10:15 a.m. Kyiv time and included a 40-minute break. According to the same report citing Axios, the US envoys could travel to Moscow after the Abu Dhabi meetings, before making their way to Kyiv. Sybiha: US cooperation to continue Speaking on the United News telethon after the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris on Nov. 10, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he felt “a strong determination from the United States to continue its efforts to end Russian aggression,” adding that Kyiv appreciates cooperation with the American side. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign minister also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of misleading Ukraine’s partners about the situation at the frontline in Donbas. “Putin is trying to spread false information among our partners, claiming that Ukraine controls only 10% of the territory in Donbas. This is untrue. Ukraine controls 20% of the territory,” Sybiha said, noting that he had presented battlefield data to the US secretary of state and other partners. Kyiv Post, however, could not independently verify these figures. Ukraine has put forward its own ceasefire proposals for both the Black Sea and the energy sector as well, and is now waiting for Moscow’s response, Sybiha said. He summed up Kyiv’s message in Abu Dhabi in three points: de-escalation and a Ukrainian-proposed ceasefire, security guarantees, and a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, which, in his view, “could truly accelerate the end of the war.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.