U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi end without a breakthrough. The talks, which focused on post-war security, concluded with an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange but no end to the five-year war.
The talks, the first since February, saw U.S. mediators push for a multilateral format involving European representatives. Kushner said the next step is securing Putin's blessing to include Europeans in discussions, while Russian negotiator Medinsky dismissed European involvement, stating his team had no contact with European officials during the talks.
Kyiv and Moscow remain divided on the future security framework, with Ukraine seeking reassurances against NATO expansion and Russia demanding limits on NATO's influence in Eastern Europe. A ceasefire and peace deal are contingent on resolving territorial disputes, with both sides acknowledging significant differences remain. The talks highlight ongoing tensions between the parties over the future of Ukraine's security and the role of international actors in resolving the conflict.