President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before traveling to Dublin to see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following two days of Abu Dhabi peace talks aimed at ending the war.
Upon arriving in Ireland, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there is “a unique opportunity” to end the war before 2027.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
🔴 #LIVE: Statement by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinskiy, head of the Russian delegation, following the talks in Abu Dhabi 🔗 https://t.co/QZzmcoG7ZZ
“The important thing is that the Americans went to Putin with specific details. And I would very much like them to come to Dublin with specific details as well.”
Following the talks, the parties agreed on a prisoner exchange that Jared Kushner described as “the largest” since the war began, though the conflicting sides did not announce the number of people who will be released.
Jared Kushner said:
Our team reported on the results of the meetings in Abu Dhabi with the American and Russian sides, as well as the coordination with European partners present in the Emirates. First, there is an important humanitarian arrangement regarding preparations for a new exchange. Second,… pic.twitter.com/N1ql7Yn2Z6
“Because we see some opportunities.”
Jared Kushner also said that the meeting with Vladimir Putin aims to review what was discussed and try to make further progress on certain issues under discussion, adding that his and Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy aims to continue discussing ideas that were reached.
Chief Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov reported “fundamental differences still remain” and added via Telegram that “we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but there are opportunities to continue the negotiation process.”
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky told reporters: “The discussion will certainly continue.”
Vladimir Medinsky also stated:
⚡️ Press briefing by the Russian delegation following the talks in Abu Dhabi 💬 Vladimir #Medinskiy: The world needs a new, modern, renewed security system that is fair and does not come at the expense of individual countries We will work towards thathttps://t.co/wC1p6gpWpv pic.twitter.com/3rxlLO7Ymf
“We have not received a single peace initiative or a single concrete peace proposal from European countries. Therefore, it is not clear what can be discussed.”
Ancillary meetings took place on the sidelines in Abu Dhabi with officials from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, alongside NATO and the European Union.
