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Ukrainian leader announces first prisoner swap with Russia in four months

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President

05 February 2026 00:55 (UTC +04:00)

Ukraine and Russia are expected to carry out a new prisoner exchange in the near future. It will be the first such swap after a four-month pause, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address, APA reports citing RBC Ukraine.

He said the Ukrainian delegation involved in talks with the United States and Russia in Abu Dhabi had briefed him on today’s meeting. Ukrainian officials also held separate contacts with the US side.

"We discussed the interim results of today’s talks. They will continue tomorrow. There will also be an important step: we expect a prisoner-of-war exchange in the near future. We must bring our people home," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Ukraine’s position is clear: the war must end, and Russia must be ready for that.

"Partners must be prepared to ensure this in practice through real security guarantees and real pressure on the aggressor. It is important that people in Ukraine feel the situation is really moving toward peace and the end of the war, not toward Russia using everything to its advantage and continuing its strikes," he said.

Zelenskyy also warned that Russia must not be rewarded, otherwise it would eventually undermine any agreements.