Key points

  • Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials are holding a second day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, according to Business Recorder.
  • The US-brokered meetings are the first direct discussions between Moscow and Kyiv since February, following a 4-1/2 year conflict.
  • Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have not provided specific details, while US and Ukrainian leaders described initial discussions as productive and substantive.

Delegates from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have gathered in Abu Dhabi for a second day of diplomatic negotiations aimed at finding a settlement to the ongoing conflict. According to Business Recorder, the closed-door meetings represent the first direct diplomatic contact between Moscow and Kyiv since February.

Key Details

Business Recorder reported that Wednesday's sessions followed a first day of discussions on Monday that produced no early signs of a breakthrough. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's top negotiator, stated on the Telegram app that the second day would feature a trilateral format involving the United States and Russia, followed by separate meetings with European partners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted that Monday's substantive talks covered humanitarian and security issues, adding that a potential summit of Russian, Ukrainian, and US leaders could be discussed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the initial meetings as very productive without disclosing further specifics. Both President Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin are not attending the Abu Dhabi meetings.

Context and Impact

The ongoing negotiations come more than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite public optimism from US President Donald Trump and his envoys who brought the two sides together, Business Recorder noted there has been no visible sign of major compromises or the discussion of new issues between Moscow and Kyiv, who remain far apart on the terms for a settlement.

Summary and What Next

Wednesday marks the final day of scheduled meetings in Abu Dhabi. While discussions have touched upon security and humanitarian topics, no official details regarding a breakthrough or a leaders' summit have been confirmed.