Russia, Ukraine, and US hold talks in Abu Dhabi to end war

Russia, Ukraine, and the United States held nearly four hours of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, marking the first three-way session since February in an effort to end the war following Moscow's invasion nearly five years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks "constructive and quite substantive," focusing on humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges and returning civilians and children, while security guarantees were also discussed. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described them as "very productive," though no significant breakthroughs have emerged from previous rounds. The talks occur amid ongoing fighting, with Russia launching 162 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, and Ukraine downing 155 Russian drones. Key differences remain, as Russia demands territorial concessions and Ukraine's neutrality, while Ukraine rejects ceding land and insists on security guarantees, with a second round expected Wednesday.