Rubio Calls First Day of Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi Very Productive

The update

The first day of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi concluded after four hours on Tuesday, with delegations due to reconvene on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who did not attend, called the talks “very productive” but said much work remained. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said humanitarian issues, including prisoner-of-war exchanges and the return of children, were discussed, with security guarantees also on the agenda. No breakthrough was reported.

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Why it matters

These are the first trilateral talks since February, aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. Positions remain far apart on Donetsk: Moscow demands Ukraine relinquish areas it still holds, while Kyiv wants to freeze the contact line. Jared Kushner told delegates the United States had narrowed gaps on postwar security, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected a truce, saying it would let Kyiv regroup.

What to watch

Talks resume on Wednesday, focused on postwar security arrangements and territory. Rubio said the United States aims eventually to expand the talks to include European voices, after European and NATO officials met US and Ukrainian envoys on the sidelines. Movement on territory, prisoner exchanges or returned children would show whether the claimed private flexibility is real.

Sources

• bbc.co.uk — confirms the first day concluded, Rubio’s assessment and the Donetsk dispute
• theguardian.com — confirms the four-hour session, Wednesday resumption and Zelenskyy’s humanitarian agenda

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