Second day of negotiations/ What agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine?

2026-02-05 13:37:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Second day of negotiations/ What agreement was reached between Russia and

Ukraine and Russia have wrapped up the second day of US-brokered negotiations in Abu Dhabi, aiming to end the four-year war, with one agreement so far reached between the sides.

Ukraine and Russia have reportedly agreed to exchange 314 prisoners. The agreement was announced by US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

"This outcome was achieved through peace talks that have been detailed and productive. While significant work remains to be done, such steps demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is yielding tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Discussions will continue, with additional progress expected in the coming weeks," Witkoff said in his response.

Today's talks between Russia and Ukraine are the latest of several previous attempts to end the war since Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Belarus a few days after Russia's invasion and held two more rounds of talks in early March 2022. Russia wanted Ukraine's neutrality and for Kiev to recognize Crimea as Russian, and the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Ukraine demanded a complete withdrawal of troops.

The talks collapsed in April 2022 after Russia's deadly attack on the Kiev suburb of Bucha, with the two sides disagreeing on key points. Russia rejected a Ukrainian proposal to conduct military exercises without Moscow's permission, and Ukraine rejected a Russian request that would have given it the ability to veto other states' military intervention to defend Ukraine.

In May 2025, Russian and Ukrainian delegations held direct talks for the first time in three years. While they agreed on prisoner and troop exchanges, they failed to agree on other key issues.

US President Donald Trump set a deadline for a ceasefire until August and, when that deadline passed, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, after which he called on Ukraine to give up the territory. Zelenskyy and other European leaders met at the White House, with security guarantees for Ukraine a key topic.

The previous round began last month, with Russian, Ukrainian and American negotiators meeting in Abu Dhabi. Russia's demand that Ukraine give up areas of Donbas under its control was a red line, and the talks ended without an agreement. /CNA