Ukraine Peace Talks Continue in Abu Dhabi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin lives in a "different reality" during the trilateral talks initiated in Abu Dhabi with US mediation. Reacting to claims that half of Donbas was occupied during the talks, Zelenskyy noted that the American side confirmed Ukraine's assessment on the ground.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the first day of trilateral negotiations held in Abu Dhabi with the participation of Ukraine, Russia, and the US, mediated by the US, as constructive and substantive. Holding a press conference in Copenhagen, Zelenskyy expressed his satisfaction with the change in approach of US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to the peace talks.

Among the agenda items in Abu Dhabi was the creation of a new security architecture for Europe, raised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. While US officials stated they aim to permanently end the war, European officials expressed concerns over potential harsh demands regarding the reduction of NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe.

As diplomatic contacts continue, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asked for expedited deliveries of air defense missiles against attacks on energy infrastructure during his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On the other hand, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's announcement that he would block the EU budget until a financial aid agreement is reached for Ukraine sparked debates within the union.

A fire broke out at the Ust-Luga oil export port in western Russia as a result of a drone attack. Additionally, Latvia and Lithuania called on the public to take shelter due to unidentified drone threats entering their airspace from the Russian or Belarusian border, which caused accusations among the parties.