US, Russia, and Ukraine Open Talks in Abu Dhabi on Peace Deal

Three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. begin Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such meeting since February and focusing on security guarantees in a renewed push for peace. The two-day session aims to address the nearly five-year-old full-scale war. Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on key issues, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede four illegally annexed regions, abandon NATO ambitions, and accept military limits, while Ukraine rejects territorial concessions and insists an immediate ceasefire is the necessary first step. Both delegations include senior officials from previous rounds of negotiations. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner says a broader European security deal is being developed, with plans for direct engagement between Russia and European partners. Russia has escalated strikes on Ukraine's power grid, while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries.