Prisoner Exchange: US Pushes for Largest Swap of War
Jared Kushner says thousands of detainees could return home as European nations join the next round of peace talks.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Thousands of people held in captivity could return to their families in what US envoy Jared Kushner described on Thursday as the largest prisoner exchange of the war. Kushner made the announcement on the social media platform X, though he did not release specific details about the proposed arrangement or the number of individuals involved.
The statement comes as the United States seeks to expand the scope of its mediation efforts. Kushner confirmed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to include European nations in the next round of peace negotiations. This addition is intended to broaden the agenda beyond the immediate territorial disputes between Moscow and Kyiv to include long-term security arrangements for the continent after the conflict ends.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the prospect of European participation following discussions with Kushner and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelensky expressed hope that the expanded talks would address ceasefires and measures to ease the conflict. He emphasized the importance of restarting the negotiating process after a pause of nine months.
The diplomatic push follows recent travel by the US envoys, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Dublin. Witkoff stated earlier that Putin consented to European representatives taking part in the upcoming talks. Putin also called on Washington to engage with its European allies to determine whether they prefer peace or war in Ukraine.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have reported some progress in their interactions but acknowledged that major differences persist, particularly regarding territory. Russia currently controls a fifth of Ukraine, while Kyiv rejects the idea of surrendering the remainder of its eastern Donbas region. Kushner noted that Washington is encouraged by the progress but recognized that substantial disagreements continue to separate the sides.
Kushner outlined conditions for a durable end to the fighting, pointing to the need for credible security guarantees and reciprocal commitments to de-escalation. He said these elements are necessary to lower the danger of another conflict. Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and President Donald Trump has pledged to bring the war to an end since returning to the White House, though an agreement has yet to be secured.
