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US-mediated Ukraine-Russia talks resume in Abu Dhabi without ceasefire deal
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
The second day of US-mediated Ukraine-Russia talks began in Abu Dhabi, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was “very happy” with a change in the US approach. Ukrainian and French officials said partial truces could be a first step towards a complete ceasefire, but no agreement has been announced and fighting continues.
The first meeting lasted several hours and covered humanitarian issues and security guarantees, while negotiators are working on a large-scale prisoner exchange. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff said the sides had narrowed their differences and discussed a security framework involving Europe; Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Europeans should eventually join the talks. Russia claimed its forces had taken parts of Donbas that Ukraine says remain under its control, while a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Ust-Luga port reportedly wounded three workers.
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In short
- Ukraine and Russia continued US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
- Zelensky welcomed a change in the US approach.
- Talks cover truces, security and a prisoner exchange.
How this story developed
- 46 minutes ago Ukrainian and Russian negotiators resumed talks in Abu Dhabi with no outcome announced; US envoys said differences had narrowed, while a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Ust-Luga oil-export port wounded three workers, according to the regional governor.
- 49 minutes ago The second day of US-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia opened in Abu Dhabi, as Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a shift in Washington’s approach and officials discussed partial truces as a possible path towards a full ceasefire, while fighting continued.
Full account
Russian and Ukrainian delegations resumed US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, entering the second and final day of discussions aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion. The latest round is part of President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to broker an agreement. It is the first such meeting since talks stalled in February, according to one report, which also links the earlier pause to Washington’s attention being diverted by the Iran war.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking part in the discussions. Kushner described the opening day as constructive and said the US had narrowed differences between the two sides, though he gave no detail about what had changed. He said the effort was intended to end the war and establish security arrangements for Ukraine and lasting peace in Europe. The reports did not announce a ceasefire agreement or a breakthrough.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said his delegation had described the first day as substantive, with humanitarian questions and security guarantees among the subjects raised. He welcomed what he called a change in the US mediators’ approach and said negotiators were working on a large prisoner exchange. He added that US officials were expected to travel to Russia to discuss the exchange. Zelensky also disputed Russian claims that Moscow’s forces had taken half of the Donbas, saying Ukraine had evidence that the areas in question remained under its control.
Diplomatic activity continued alongside the fighting. A Russian regional governor said Ukrainian drones had caused a fire at the Ust-Luga oil-export port and wounded three workers; he said Russian air defences had brought down 150 drones in the region overnight. Separately, at a G7 meeting in Paris, Ukraine’s and France’s foreign ministers praised US efforts to pursue limited truces as a possible step towards a wider ceasefire. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the discussions productive and said European countries should eventually join negotiations, arguing they had a role in resolving the conflict.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report provides extensive detail on Zelensky’s comments, the proposed prisoner exchange, competing claims about control of the Donbas, overnight attacks and calls for European involvement. The second report is a brief developing-story account, focused on the start of the talks and Kushner’s description of the first day; it supplies little detail on the agenda or the battlefield context.
The first report says the talks resumed for a second day after opening on Tuesday and describes them as the first since February. The second calls Wednesday the second and final day of the round. The reports otherwise broadly agree that the talks were under way and US envoys were involved.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of continued talks can argue that even without an immediate ceasefire, narrowing differences and discussing security guarantees may create a path to reduce the fighting. Partial truces and a prisoner exchange could ease civilian suffering and build trust, while European involvement may help make any eventual settlement more credible.
The case against
Sceptics can argue that talks without a ceasefire leave people exposed to continued attacks and may give either side time to pursue its aims by force. Claims of progress remain unconfirmed by an agreement, and partial truces or security guarantees could prove fragile if the parties’ core disagreements and questions of territorial control remain unresolved.
Explained simply
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, after years of conflict over territory and Ukraine’s political direction. The fighting has centred in part on Donbas, an eastern Ukrainian region that includes areas claimed by both sides.
Ukraine is led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, while Russia is led by President Vladimir Putin. The United States has acted as a mediator, and European countries have also discussed how Ukraine’s security could be supported.
A ceasefire would pause the fighting, while security guarantees are intended to deter future attacks. Humanitarian measures, including prisoner exchanges, can be negotiated separately and may form part of wider efforts to end the war.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ukraine peace talks which ‘could be first step toward complete ceasefire’ continue, with Zelensky saying he’s ‘very happy’ with US approach”.