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US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks end without tangible progress
Developing story first seen 7 hours ago
The first US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in nine months ended without tangible progress, exposing the gap between the sides over how to pursue peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the discussion as constructive, but Russia remained opposed to the ceasefire Kyiv and its allies say should come before broader negotiations.
The two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi included a four-hour discussion and brought together US, Russian and Ukrainian delegations. European officials had a secondary role and urged that a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine precede talks on a wider European security framework; a joint European-American statement reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The article also notes concerns that US proposals for a new security framework could accommodate Russian demands.
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In short
- Abu Dhabi talks ended without tangible results.
- Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire first.
- Europe pressed for Ukrainian security guarantees.
How this story developed
- 5 minutes ago The latest account adds concern that US proposals to reshape European security could accommodate Russian demands and weaken Ukraine’s position.
- 9 minutes ago Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks constructive, while European officials, who played a secondary role, pressed for a ceasefire and security guarantees before wider negotiations and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
- 14 minutes ago Russia, Ukraine and the United States began two days of talks in Abu Dhabi after nine months without discussions, but their first four-hour session yielded no tangible results as they disagreed over whether a ceasefire should precede wider peace negotiations.
Full account
Talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, with the United States acting as mediator, have so far produced little visible progress towards ending the war. The discussions brought representatives of all three countries together, but public remarks offered few concrete details about what, if anything, had been agreed.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, described the first day as constructive and substantial. He welcomed what he called a change in the US mediators’ approach and said he hoped the next round would advance the discussions. US envoy Jared Kushner said the mediators had narrowed differences between the sides and were seeking a path towards a settlement, but did not explain which issues had moved.
Zelenskyy also challenged Russia’s account of the battlefield. He said Russian representatives had claimed that their forces controlled half of the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, and argued that this did not match the situation on the ground. He welcomed the US side’s stated alignment with Ukraine’s assessment, while accusing Vladimir Putin of holding an inaccurate view of events.
The remarks point to a persistent obstacle: the parties remain far apart over the military situation and the terms of any settlement. The reports describe a hopeful tone from the mediators and Zelenskyy, but provide no evidence of a breakthrough or of specific compromises. Zelenskyy was due to address Denmark’s parliament later that morning.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first supplied report from Le Monde contains only an automated-traffic access notice, so it provides no substantive account to compare. The second report foregrounds Zelenskyy’s positive assessment of the US mediators and his dispute with Russia’s claims about the Donbas; Kushner’s comments on narrowed gaps are also included, without details of the issues involved.
Coverage · 3 sources
Bias meters
From 2 rated sources, 1 unrated.
- Le MondeLeftUS-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks end without tangible progress
- The GuardianLeftUkraine’s Zelenskyy ‘happy’ with US envoys’ approach as Russia talks enter second day – Europe live
- MeduzaZelensky says Russian delegation claimed to control parts of Donbas still held by Ukraine at Abu Dhabi talks
Europe Government Politics World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Le Monde as “Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi make little progress”.