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Talks in Abu Dhabi started on Friday and are due to continue over two days “as part of ongoing efforts to promote dialog and identify political solutions to the crisis”
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Crunch peace talks kicked off today between Ukraine, Russia and the US, and Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw troops from areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed.
With next month marking four years since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of war-torn Ukraine, negotiators gathered in abu Dhabi. The three-way talks mark the first known time officials from Donald Trump ‘s administration simultaneously met with Ukraine and Russia negotiators.
Zelenskyy, simultaneously occurring, has reiterated his openness to establishing a free trade zone under ukraine’s control in the country’s east. The Ukrainian president said he discussed the proposal with Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday and told reporters: ”I think it will be positive for our business.”
While it is unclear exactly how the talks in Abu Dhabi will unfold and many obstacles to peace remain, some see it as a sign the countries are making progress in closing a deal. Zelenskyy said after meeting with Trump that while the future status of land in eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia remains unresolved,the peace proposals are “nearly ready”.”Today’s meeting will be in the format of Ukraine, russia and the United States, and afterward the Europeans will certainly receive feedback from us,” he told journalists in a WhatsApp audio message.
The kremlin offered little detail beyond calling the meeting a “working group on security issues”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation is comprised of military officials. The talks could be extended into Saturday, “if necessary”, he said. Separately, Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev will hold talks with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff on economic issues, he confirmed.