Ukraine and Russia have concluded the first day of in-person peace talks in Abu Dhabi, brokered by the United States.
The lead Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Emerov, said that the first day was “productive” and that their team was preparing a report for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia was represented by a team of high-level military officials, and the U.S sent their usual group of Ukraine-Russia peace delegates, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
This “working-group format” style of negotiations comes after two days of trilateral meetings prior, and months of the U.S. brokering for peace between the two other nations.
"The work was substantive and productive, focused on concrete steps and practical solutions," said Umerov.
The war, which started in 2022 when Moscow invaded, is the longest-running conflict in Europe since World War II.
