Russia-Ukraine Talks Begin in Abu Dhabi With Low Expectations

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, mediated by the US, marking their first direct talks since February. Expectations for significant progress are low, though US President Donald Trump expressed optimism beforehand. The two-day talks involve US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the Ukrainian delegation meeting separately with European allies including Germany, France, Britain, Italy, the EU, and NATO. Experts say a partial ceasefire and prisoner exchange would already be a major achievement given the widely divergent positions. Russia reportedly seeks to discuss a broader European security architecture beyond Ukraine, potentially demanding additional territorial concessions from Kyiv. Trump hinted Ukraine will have a "somewhat different form" regarding unresolved territorial questions, while European officials describe the negotiations as unstructured and chaotic.