Abu Dhabi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi as “very productive” on Tuesday, as Washington pushed for a broader European security agreement aimed at ending nearly five years of war.
The first day of US-mediated negotiations concluded after nearly four hours, with Russian and Ukrainian delegations meeting American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The talks, the first since February, are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the third round of trilateral negotiations, reaffirming the UAE’s support for US efforts to promote dialogue and achieve a political settlement.
Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the participating delegations.
He praised their confidence in the UAE and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to bridging differences and supporting diplomatic efforts towards lasting peace.
Expressing hope that the negotiations would produce practical steps towards ending the conflict.
Rubio seeks European involvement
Speaking in Paris after the first day’s negotiations, Rubio called for European countries to participate in future discussions on the continent’s security.
