Russia and Ukraine hold talks on post-war security

Trilateral talks conclude in Abu Dhabi

Russia, Ukraine and the US ended two days of negotiations aimed at ending the nearly five year-long war sparked by Russia's invasion. The American side reported seeing some openings but no breakthroughs.

Ukraine's negotiator on the talks

Davyd Arakhamia from Ukraine's negotiating team said this round, the first since February, was one of the hardest. He felt the Russians came with very strict directives but sensed good momentum.

“I believe the Russians came with very strict directives, so it was extremely difficult to soften the discussion.”

Prisoner exchange reportedly in the works

Both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed that a large-scale prisoner of war exchange was in the works and could be carried out soon, offering a concrete outcome from the negotiations.

US negotiators to meet Putin and Zelensky

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, will travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, then to Dublin to speak to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

The security architecture divide

For Kyiv, security means reassurances that allies will aid Ukraine if attacked again despite not being a NATO member. For Moscow, it means limiting NATO's influence in eastern Europe, a central Kremlin concern.

Donetsk remains the hardest issue

Moscow demands Ukraine relinquish occupied parts of Donetsk, while Kyiv wants to freeze the contact line to maintain control. Kushner acknowledged this matter was the hardest to resolve in negotiations.

Trust remains the core obstacle

Kushner said any peacetime security agreement depends on ending the war, which requires agreement on territory and bilateral issues. He noted there is no trust between the sides after such a conflict.

“The reality is there is no trust right now between the sides and that is to be expected after a conflict like this.”