U.S. officials say they are determined to revive Washington\u2019s peace efforts that so far have failed to deliver significant results.<\/p>\n
Along with postwar security guarantees for both countries, other key hurdles are the fate of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and what role European countries will play in an eventual settlement.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tUS envoys to meet with Putin and Zelenskyy\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The sides last met in February on Russia\u2019s invasion, which analysts and humanitarian organizations say has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians.<\/p>\n
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The talks lasted just under two hours Wednesday, after a four-hour session the previous day.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the positives is we agreed that we\u2019re going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we\u2019re going to finalize the numbers tomorrow,\u201d said Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law, after the Abu Dhabi talks ended.<\/p>\n
Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, and Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv\u2019s contingent, confirmed the planned POW exchange, although Medinsky noted the agreement was \u201cin principle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander Zorin, a deputy chief of the General Staff\u2019s information department who attended the talks, told Russian state TV it would be one of the biggest such swaps since 1,000 soldiers from each side returned home last year.<\/p>\n
The latest exchange could take place in the next two or three weeks, he said.<\/p>\n
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Kushner said he and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, then fly to Dublin, Ireland, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n
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The Ukrainian leader gave a muted welcome to the outcome of the talks, saying a proposed prisoner exchange was a positive step. But he said Ukraine will not give in to demands that it cede its territory that has been occupied by Russia in exchange for peace.<\/p>\n
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Medinsky said he felt the talks helped Moscow and Kyiv edge closer to peace, while Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov described them as \u201csubstantive and quite useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tRussia opposed European officials in the talks\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Umerov said Kyiv\u2019s delegation was expected to meet later Wednesday with representatives of European governments, the European Union and NATO who were in the capital of the United Arab Emirates but did not attend the three-way talks.<\/p>\n
Moscow doesn\u2019t want European countries, which are concerned about Russia\u2019s conduct and broader intentions on the continent, involved in the direct negotiations. Kushner said one of the goals of the Moscow meeting is to try to get Europeans added to the talks.<\/p>\n
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In Dublin, Zelenskyy said it was positive that security advisers and senior officials from European governments, the EU and NATO were in Abu Dhabi, even though they were not a part of the talks.<\/p>\n
Despite that. he said there had been a \u201cchange in temperature,\u201d with Washington warming to the idea of a European role.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnding this war without Europe\u2019s participation would be unjust, and it would be impossible,\u201d Zelenskyy said through an interpreter.<\/p>\n
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European representatives could eventually join peace talks but added their current statements \u201cdon\u2019t indicate any desire on their part to contribute to movement along the path toward peace.\u201d Moscow complains that Europe is financing and supplying weaponry to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Kushner said both Ukraine and Russia needed clarity on postwar security arrangements. He said European countries, the EU and NATO have to be involved in those discussions to build consensus on next steps.<\/p>\n
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Ukraine wants to ensure that Moscow doesn\u2019t invade again, and EU officials say any discussions on Europe\u2019s security arrangements could only start after a ceasefire. Many in Europe see the inclusion of Russia in those plans as a concession to Putin, who has described NATO\u2019s eastward expansion as a top security threat to his country. Moscow has demanded that the alliance\u2019s troops be pulled back its troops from Russia\u2019s borders.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tMore on World<\/button>More videos<\/button>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nRussia\u2019s security concerns were discussed at the talks, Kushner said, adding that Moscow was told it needs to provide different de-escalation proposals acceptable to Europe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is, is there\u2019s no trust right now between the sides. And that\u2019s to be expected after a conflict like this,\u201d he said. But he posted on X later that the POW exchange \u201cwill reunite families, build trust and create momentum toward peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tThe talks were held in a new political atmosphere\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The context of the negotiations has changed since the February meeting in Geneva. The Trump administration now must reckon with Democrats taking over the U.S. Congress in January following the U.S. midterm elections, and they could demand more support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
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Also, Russia\u2019s wartime economy is under heavy strain, and Ukraine is reeling from devastating aerial attacks on its power grid.<\/p>\n
Fighting continues on the front line, where little territory has changed hands this year. Both countries are battering each other with long-range missiles and drones.<\/p>\n
Three people died and 11 were injured after Russia launched a daytime attack on a market in the southern Odesa region, local authorities said. Residential buildings were damaged, said Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration.<\/p>\n
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Overnight, Russia struck the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine and the eastern city of Kharkiv, wounding seven civilians and damaging property, Ukrainian officials said.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s Defense Ministry said it downed 627 Ukrainian drones overnight, 150 of them over the region around St. Petersburg. Regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko said the drones started a fire at the port of Ust-Luga, a main facility for Russian oil exports, injuring three workers.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tAn Indonesian man is reportedly captured on the battlefield\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, a 49-year-old Indonesian man reportedly was captured on the battlefield in southern Ukraine\u2019s Zaporizhzhia region after he claimed he was unknowingly recruited to fight for the Russian military.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv was seeking access to the man, who was in Ukrainian custody, according to Yvonne Mewengkang, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
According to Ukraine\u2019s \u201cI Want to Live\u201d project that offers Russian troops the opportunity to surrender, the man was taken to occupied Donetsk with no military training and then to the Zaporizhzhia region, where his unit was attacked and he was captured.<\/p>\n
The man said he signed what he believed to be a contract to work in construction for one year in Moscow, the group said on Telegram.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian and Russian officials had no immediate comment.<\/p>\n
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\u2014AP reporters Susie Blann in Kyiv, Ukraine, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta contributed.<\/em><\/p>\nSource: <\/p>\n
: World<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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