Zelensky hails largest prisoner swap with Russia as Europe joins talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a "real result" after securing a prisoner exchange with Russia, calling it the largest swap of war prisoners, and confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers will return home. Zelensky also welcomed progress in including European representatives in upcoming negotiations with Russia and the US, stating that Europe "will have a voice" in the talks. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner described "very intense" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, pledging to work toward ending the war. The prisoner exchange was finalized during talks in Abu Dhabi, with Witkoff noting that returning "thousands of people" to their families would be a significant milestone. The developments came amid a European Political Community summit in Dublin, where European leaders emphasized their indispensable role in supporting Ukraine.