Russia-Ukraine peace talks: In Abu Dhabi, US to look for security guarantees for both

For the first time since February, Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators are scheduled to hold talks on ending the full-scale war that is nearing the five-year mark, with security guarantees topping the agenda.

The two-day session starting Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, follows previous negotiations early this year that failed to produce any visible progress toward ending Europe's most devastating conflict since World War II.

The talks follow last month's localized truce around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine that was brokered with the help of US first lady Melania Trump and allowed the evacuation of some of its residents and the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian supplies.

Divergent demands

Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key elements of any prospective ceasefire deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to pull its troops back from the four regions that Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured.

He also demands that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO, accept strict limits on its military and drop restrictions on the Russian language.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Putin's demands to voluntarily cede any territory.