Ukraine, Russia and US begin talks in Abu Dhabi

Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said on Tuesday that the delegations had moved to a three-way format. He said ending the fighting and bringing peace closer were on the agenda; his announcement did not report an outcome.

The two-day session is the first meeting in that format since February, according to the Associated Press. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Before the trilateral talks, the Ukrainian delegation met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Nato and the European Commission, AP reported.

The two sides remain far apart on the terms of a settlement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukrainian troops withdraw from four regions Moscow claims but does not fully control, and has rejected a general ceasefire before a comprehensive agreement. Ukraine wants an immediate ceasefire as a first step and rejects giving up territory Russia has not captured.

Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid, while Ukraine has increased its drone strikes on Russian refineries.