LIVE War in Ukraine: American envoys are in Russia to meet Putin…
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow after talks in Abu Dhabi; Zelensky hopes for a breakthrough before the end of the year.
Quick Look
- Russia and Ukraine agree on “large-scale” prisoner exchange after US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.
- American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
- Zelensky speaks of a “window of opportunity” for a breakthrough before the end of the year.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ukrainian-Russian talks under American mediation ended Wednesday in Abu Dhabi after less than two hours of discussion, the day after a first day of more prolonged exchanges. It was the first meeting since February between the belligerents to move towards a settlement of the conflict, negotiations having reached a standstill while Washington focused on the war in Iran.
American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow this Thursday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after Ukrainian-Russian discussions in Abu Dhabi. They “were greeted by the special representative of the Russian president, Kirill Dmitriev,” upon their arrival at Vnukovo airport, on the outskirts of Moscow, the Interfax agency said.
The Ukrainian president estimated on Wednesday that there could exist a “window of opportunity” to achieve a breakthrough before the end of the year in negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia, upon his arrival in Ireland where he is due to meet this Thursday with American emissaries upon their return from Moscow.
Volodymyr Zelensky added that he hoped US officials would come back from their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin with “concrete elements”.
Ukraine welcomed “good momentum” on Wednesday following talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi, according to one of the members of the kyiv delegation, David Arakhamia. “I think we have good momentum to get a solution before the start of next year,” he said, reporting “very great progress” after two days of discussions.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a “large-scale” exchange of prisoners, the head of the Russian delegation said on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi following talks with kyiv under American mediation. Vladimir Medinski added that the “concrete” details of this process would be announced later.
Ukrainian-Russian talks under American mediation ended Wednesday in Abu Dhabi after less than two hours of discussion, the day after a first day of more prolonged exchanges deemed positive by kyiv and Washington. It was the first meeting since February between the belligerents to move towards a settlement of the conflict, negotiations having reached a standstill while Washington focused on the war in Iran.
Russian authorities announced on Wednesday that they had declared French deputies Sacha Houlié and Arthur Delaporte, as well as journalists Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo, persona non grata, a measure taken in response to the expulsion of pro-Kremlin columnist Xenia Fedorova.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The concrete details of the prisoner exchange will be announced later.
Very likely · Within days
American officials will return from Moscow with “concrete elements” for Zelensky.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- What are the concrete details of the prisoner exchange and when will they be announced?
- What “concrete elements” will American officials bring back from their meeting with Putin?
- What will be France's response to the persona non grata declaration of its deputies and journalists?
