The prisoner exchange, the first concrete result of the negotiations
So far, the most tangible result of the talks in Abu Dhabi was a preliminary agreement to carry out a massive prisoner exchange.
Kushner described the understanding as one of the largest exchanges since the beginning of the conflict. Zelensky, for his part, noted that the operation could involve between 1,000 and 1,200 soldiers from each side, although Kyiv is still awaiting a definitive response from Moscow.
The negotiations also addressed issues related to a potential ceasefire. However, according to reports from the Ukrainian press, the Russian delegation refused to discuss an energy or maritime truce linked to grain exports.
The special envoys of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, arrived at the Kremlin this Thursday to hold a meeting with Vladimir Putin and advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, led by businessman Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the U.S. president, took place after two days of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting represents a new step in the diplomatic strategy promoted by Trump to reach a peace agreement and open a negotiated exit to the conflict. The American emissaries arrived in Moscow shortly after 1:00 PM local time, aiming to review the progress made in the United Arab Emirates and explore new possibilities for understanding.
Before the meeting, Kushner had anticipated that Washington's intention was to take advantage of the opportunities that arose during the previous talks. The U.S. envoy stated that there were some openings to advance and that the meeting with Putin would allow them to review the points discussed in Abu Dhabi and seek concrete results.
Trump seeks to consolidate diplomatic advances and bring positions closer
The Kremlin's international policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that the talks would address all issues related to the possibility of reaching a peaceful settlement. However, he also made it clear that Moscow has objections to the direct participation of European countries at the negotiating table.
Ushakov questioned the European Union's ability to designate a single representative and stated that, so far, European governments had not managed to agree on who should take on that responsibility.
The discussion arose after the United States and Ukraine raised the possibility of incorporating Europe as part of the negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Brussels to choose a negotiator this month, while Kushner encouraged Ukraine's European partners to quickly resolve that issue.
The Trump envoy considered that achieving a unified representation would be an important advance for Europe, even before Russia formally accepts its participation in the talks.
Russia acknowledged progress in Abu Dhabi and questioned the European role
From Moscow, there were also signals that the talks in the United Arab Emirates allowed for progress. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who participated for the first time in negotiations with Ukraine since the beginning of the war, assured that there had been advances and emphasized the importance of avoiding the mistakes of previous diplomatic attempts.
As he explained, one of the main axes of the talks was the architecture of European security, a central issue for the Kremlin's strategic demands.
Zelenskyy
Ryabkov, however, harshly questioned the position of European governments. He stated that they show no willingness to use common sense and considered that U.S. representatives should help them change their stance.
He also warned that incorporating Europe into the negotiations could lead to a setback and jeopardize the diplomatic efforts currently underway.
For his part, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, raised the need to build a sort of "new Yalta," referring to the 1945 conference where the victorious powers of World War II defined much of the post-war international order.
The reference raised concerns among European officials, who interpret the proposal as a possible Russian demand to limit NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe and reduce Western military support for Ukraine.
U.S. media also reported that Trump’s representatives requested a new proposal from Moscow on continental security, different from the one presented by Russia at the end of 2021.
One of the main obstacles remains the territorial issue. Moscow demands that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern areas it still controls, while Kyiv maintains that any discussion of territorial modifications must occur after a ceasefire.
Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Dublin to inform Zelensky
After their meeting with Putin, Witkoff and Kushner plan to travel to Dublin to report on the results of the talks to the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky arrived in Ireland on Wednesday and stated that there is a window of opportunity to end the war before 2027. The president particularly highlighted that the U.S. representatives traveled to Moscow with concrete proposals and expressed his expectation that they return with answers that allow for progress.
Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Dublin to inform Zelensky
The Ukrainian president acknowledged that there are still reservations about the possibilities of reaching an agreement, although he assured that he remains hopeful that Washington's efforts can yield results.
Meanwhile, around 50 European leaders are meeting this Thursday in the Irish capital. The European Union acknowledges that there are still few concrete advances towards peace and maintains that it is not appropriate to discuss the overall architecture of European security with Moscow before the fighting ends.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the United States, Ukraine, and Europe are aligned and united in their positions.
As diplomatic activity continues, the war continues to leave victims. A Russian attack on a residential building in Kyiv resulted in one death overnight, according to AFP. In St. Petersburg, a car bomb explosion killed a Russian soldier.
Zelensky also denounced new restrictions on the operation of the Starshield satellite internet service, used to sustain communications on the battlefield.
The meeting in the Kremlin thus constitutes a new decisive instance for Trump's efforts. Washington seeks to transform the diplomatic contacts of recent days into concrete commitments that bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to an agreement, although territorial differences and discussions about European security remain the main obstacles.
