Ukraine expressed optimism Wednesday that U.S.-mediated negotiations with Russia could produce a solution to the war before the end of the year, following two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. The discussions also produced an agreement on a major prisoner exchange, although no broader peace settlement was announced.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to what would be their largest prisoner release, with final numbers expected Thursday. Kushner and fellow U.S. mediator Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday before traveling to Dublin to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the negotiations.
“I think that we have a good momentum to bring the solution before the new year comes,” Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said, expressing hope that another round of talks could take place soon. Kushner said, “One of the positives is we agreed that we’re going to have the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, which we’re going to finalize the numbers tomorrow.”
Despite the diplomatic optimism, significant disagreements remain over the conditions for ending the war and Europe’s role in future security arrangements. Zelensky welcomed greater European involvement in the U.S.-mediated process, while Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said Moscow saw no reason to hold direct meetings with European representatives. Kyiv insists that hostilities must cease and security guarantees for Ukraine must be established before discussions on Europe’s future security architecture, a position opposed by Russia. Separately, G7 foreign ministers backed U.S.-led peace efforts but called for a comprehensive, reciprocal ceasefire, identifying a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea as an important first step. They also insisted that Europeans participate in negotiations concerning the continent’s future security. Fighting also continued during the negotiations, with Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian electricity infrastructure and Ukrainian drone attacks reported in Russia.
The proposed prisoner exchange provides the clearest tangible outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks, but the main political disputes over territory, ceasefire sequencing, and Europe’s role remain unresolved. Thursday’s meeting with Putin and subsequent consultations with Zelensky will indicate whether the renewed diplomatic momentum can produce movement on those issues or remains limited to humanitarian measures. (AFP+EIR)
