US to seek Putin’s ‘blessing’ for Europe to join Ukraine talks

Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi between Russia, Ukraine and the United States concluded on Wednesday after a second day of negotiations that lasted less than two hours, following a four-hour session the previous day. The delegations announced a large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange but no progress on a ceasefire or territorial settlement. Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia called the round "one of the hardest" and said he felt "good momentum" while urging a second round soon. Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky was less conciliatory, stating that "a lot depends on Ukraine, on the position of the US, and on whether Europe comes to its senses." Both sides confirmed the prisoner swap in principle. Alexander Zorin, a Russian General Staff official, said it could involve more than 1,000 prisoners per side and take place in the next two or three weeks. Zelensky had earlier cited a range of 1,000 to 1,500 prisoners. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet President Vladimir Putin, then to Dublin to see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The talks were framed around a post-war European security architecture. Kyiv seeks guarantees against future Russian attacks; Moscow wants limits on NATO influence in eastern Europe. Medinsky compared the desired framework to a "new Yalta and Potsdam." European representatives were present in Abu Dhabi but Medinsky said the Russian delegation had no contact with them. Kushner said getting Europeans "added to the format" would be on the agenda in Moscow. A core disagreement remains on sequencing: Europe and Kyiv want a ceasefire before security talks, while the Kremlin insists fighting stops only after a comprehensive agreement. The territorial dispute over Donetsk remains the hardest issue. Medinsky said "every inch" of land would be "returned to Russia one way or another," while Kyiv wants to freeze the contact line. Kushner acknowledged the territorial question is the toughest. Fighting continued during the talks: Russian strikes on Odesa killed three and injured 11, and attacks on Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv wounded seven. Russian air defenses downed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 150 near St. Petersburg, where a fire at the Ust-Luga oil port injured three workers.