Zelenskyy outlines prisoner swap as Lavrov rejects immediate ceasefire

The Abu Dhabi talks offer a possible humanitarian agreement, but the report describes no confirmed breakthrough toward ending the war.

Channel: WELT Nachrichtensender ·

GermanyStory of November 12, 2026Trari Newsroom

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ABU DHABI: Selenskyj zufrieden nach erster Gesprächsrunde! Doch dann wird Lawrow deutlich!

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0:00Zelenskyy describes the first Abu Dhabi round as constructive, with a prisoner exchange under discussion.
0:31The report describes Ukrainian strikes on Ust-Luga and Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
1:01Sascha Hach addresses securing Black Sea transport routes for the grain trade.
1:16Zelenskyy says an exchange could involve 1,000 prisoners per side, potentially increasing to 1,500.
1:57Lavrov rejects the immediate ceasefire demand he attributes to Brussels.
2:37Christian Mölling argues Trump faces time pressure; the report then examines Kushner and Witkoff's participation.

A prisoner exchange involving as many as 1,500 people on each side is under discussion at the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, according to Germany's WELT Nachrichtensender. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describes the opening round as constructive, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejects an immediate ceasefire.

The November 11 report follows US-mediated negotiations in the United Arab Emirates' capital as they move toward a second round. Zelenskyy says negotiators are considering an exchange of 1,000 prisoners for 1,000, potentially rising to the larger figure. The scale remains a proposal, rather than a completed exchange.

The diplomatic discussions are taking place alongside continuing attacks. Reporter Mathias Heinrich describes Ukrainian drone strikes on an oil terminal at Ust-Luga, on Russia's Baltic coast, and Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Security specialist Sascha Hach addresses the protection of Black Sea transport routes used for the grain trade.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlights progress, according to the report. Lavrov, however, says Moscow will not accept the demand for an immediate ceasefire coming from Brussels. That contrast separates the prospect of a limited humanitarian agreement from the much broader question of stopping a war that expanded into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The report also raises the possibility of a meeting between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, without confirming one. Defense policy specialist Christian Mölling argues that the US president faces time pressure to achieve results. The closing section examines the American delegation, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and real estate investor Steve Witkoff, and discusses speculation about business interests around the negotiations. It establishes no business arrangement or overall peace deal.

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