Ukraine's battlefield gains strengthen Kyiv's hand in talks, Zelenskiy says

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian battlefield successes and mounting Russian losses are strengthening Kyiv's position ahead of US-led three-sided talks on ending the war, set to open Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The talks, the first since February, come as Ukraine reports record Russian casualties and successful long-range strikes on Russian targets, including oil sites. Zelenskiy said military commander Mykhailo Drapatyi presented a report underscoring heavy recent Russian losses. The 1,200-km front line has remained largely static for months, with Russia holding about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Kyiv's delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, will focus on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues.