Russia and Ukraine hold nearly 4 hours of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
Russia and Ukraine concluded nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, agreeing to a large-scale prisoner exchange while broader negotiations continue. A senior U.S. diplomat described the first day as very productive. President Trump said the war can end soon and called a broad deal possible. The meeting follows a months-long pause in direct engagement between Moscow and Kyiv.
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- ✓ Russia and Ukraine held nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
- ✓ Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange.
- ✓ A senior U.S. diplomat called the first day of talks very productive.
- ✓ President Trump said the war can end soon and described a broad deal as possible.
What changed
Direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations resumed in Abu Dhabi after a months-long pause, producing a prisoner-exchange agreement and continuing discussions under U.S. mediation.
Live updates
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Russia and Ukraine hold nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
Russia and Ukraine concluded nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, agreeing to a large-scale prisoner exchange while broader negotiations continue. A senior U.S. diplomat described the first day as very productive. President Trump said the war can end soon and called a broad deal possible. The meeting follows a months-long pause in direct engagement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Why it matters
The Abu Dhabi session marks the resumption of direct talks after a prolonged hiatus, signaling renewed U.S. diplomatic pressure to end the conflict. Washington has reportedly asked Russia to accept NATO-like security backing for Ukraine, a proposal that has alarmed some European officials. President Zelenskyy has claimed battlefield successes ahead of the meeting. No final terms on territory, security guarantees, or a ceasefire have been disclosed.
What is confirmed
- Russia and Ukraine held nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
- Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange.
- A senior U.S. diplomat called the first day of talks very productive.
- President Trump said the war can end soon and described a broad deal as possible.
- The talks ended on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
Still unconfirmed
- Washington asked Russia to agree to NATO-like security backing for Ukraine.
What to watch next
- Terms of any broader ceasefire or security arrangement
- Implementation and timing of the prisoner exchange
- Next round of negotiations and its location
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (15)
- en.people.cn — U.S. Marine indicted on robbery-murder charges in Japan's Okinawa
- Politico — US asks Russia to agree to NATO-like backing for Ukraine
- Reuters — Russia, Ukraine to meet for US-backed talks after Trump says broad deal possible
- BBC — Ukraine peace talks resume in Abu Dhabi after months-long pause
- Al Jazeera — Russia, Ukraine and US to meet as Zelenskyy claims battlefield successes
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Russia, Ukraine and US meet for Abu Dhabi talks as Trump says war can 'end soon'
- AP News — US-mediated talks on ending Russia-Ukraine war begin in Abu Dhabi
- WSJ — U.S. Overture to Russia on European Security Sparks Alarm
- Bloomberg.com — First Day of Ukraine-Russia Talks Were ‘Very Productive,’ Top US Diplomat Says
- PBS — Russia and Ukraine hold nearly 4 hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Russia-Ukraine talks: What's changed since the last round?
- www.cfr.org — Twenty-Four Hours or Twenty-Four Months: It’s Time for Peace in Ukraine
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