U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks open in Abu Dhabi

U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine opened Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such meeting since February as Washington pushes to end the nearly five-year war. The two-day session focuses on future security guarantees for both countries. The talks concluded their first day after nearly four hours, with discussions expected to resume Wednesday. They occur amid ongoing long-range strikes, including Russia launching 162 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, while Russia reported shooting down 155 Ukrainian drones. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key demands, with Putin seeking territorial concessions and NATO limits, while Zelenskyy rejects ceding land and insists on security guarantees. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said a lasting settlement requires broader European security engagement.