Trump says Russia-Ukraine breakthrough possible in Abu Dhabi talks but Marco Rubio is not too optimistic

On the eve of the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that Russia, Ukraine, and the US could reach a breakthrough. These talks, resuming after a nine-month pause, aimed to address territorial issues between Russia and Ukraine. US officials stated that all parties were entering the meeting with flexibility on territorial matters.

Trump claimed that a potential resolution was a possibility, emphasizing the strong inclination towards ending the conflict. The discussions would also involve stakeholders from other nations, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, NATO, and the European Union, to explore potential security guarantees and long-term stability in the region.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned against premature optimism, citing the historical challenges in achieving progress between Russia and Ukraine since the war began in 2022. "It's been difficult to get anything productive out of that," Rubio stated, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to find creative solutions to end the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, anticipated that the talks would focus on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues, stressing the importance of a sustained diplomatic process.