Russia and Ukraine Resume Abu Dhabi Talks After 4 1/2-Hour First Day

Russia and Ukraine resumed US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, a day after a first session that Russian state media said lasted about 4 1/2 hours. Anadolu Ajansı reported that the talks cover security guarantees for Ukraine, de-escalation steps and humanitarian measures, including prisoner releases.

The Russian state news agency Tass, citing sources, reported the start of the second day. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, also confirmed on Telegram that negotiations had resumed.

Who is at the table in Abu Dhabi

Russia's delegation is led by presidential envoy Vladimir Medinsky. It includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Mikhail Galuzin and Sergey Ryabkov, according to Anadolu.

Ukraine's team is led by Umerov and includes Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office. Washington is represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Before the three-way talks began, the American and Ukrainian sides met with representatives of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, Anadolu reported.

What each side said after day one

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that the talks were “constructive and quite substantive.” He said participants discussed security guarantees for Ukraine in detail, including arrangements meant to keep them effective over the long term. He added that the need for de-escalation steps was raised and that the sides discussed possible humanitarian measures, calling the release of prisoners a priority.

Kushner also posted on X that the American side was encouraged by the day's constructive discussions. He stressed that U.S. negotiators are acting under direct executive guidance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in France, called the negotiations “very productive” and said the diplomatic effort aims to establish durable security arrangements.

Ryabkov took a more cautious line. He told the Vesti news outlet after the first day that it was premature to assess the results.

How these talks fit into earlier rounds

According to Anadolu, the Abu Dhabi meetings are the first trilateral talks since a round in Geneva, Switzerland, in February. That round followed two others, held in January and February, which were also hosted in the Emirati capital.

Why it matters

The topics on the table bear directly on how the war could be contained and on the people it has affected. Security guarantees and steps to prevent a renewed outbreak of fighting are among the issues Zelenskyy said were discussed. He said the release of prisoners is a priority in the humanitarian talks.

The public statements so far describe the discussions as constructive, but no agreement on any of these issues had been announced in the reports available Wednesday. Russia's deputy foreign minister said it was too early to judge the outcome, so the substance of any deal remains unclear.

The talks also show the U.S. role as mediator. American envoys are in the room alongside both delegations, and the U.S. met separately with Ukraine and European partners before the trilateral format began.

What happens next

Tass reported that the Russian delegation is scheduled to make a press statement in the afternoon after the trilateral talks. Umerov said a separate meeting with European representatives will follow the trilateral session. Further details on the outcome of the second day had not been published when Anadolu filed its report.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Anadolu Ajansı

Cover photo: Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

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