Russia and Ukraine discuss prisoners, security guarantees, and postwar future on first day of Abu Dhabi talks

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators engaged in discussions for over four hours on the first day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, with a second round scheduled for the following day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the inaugural session as "constructive and quite substantive," though he acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating with Russia, whom he labeled as not being "our best friends."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who did not participate in the meeting, deemed the talks "very productive" while acknowledging that "a lot of work" remains.

Russian officials have pledged to speak to the press tomorrow, and Ukrainian media sources indicate that the talks delved into security guarantees, encompassing those for Russia, and postwar plans for rebuilding Ukraine and establishing a fresh security framework. The two parties also deliberated on prisoners of war, potentially planning a large-scale exchange.

Prior to the talks commencing, Russia emphasized the necessity of maintaining their confidentiality, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that any models of the new security architecture would not be discussed publicly.

Russia-Ukraine peace talks are set to involve Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. on November 10, marking their first trilateral meeting since February. Security issues are anticipated to dominate the agenda. A Russian FSB officer accused by Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Kyrylo Budanov is participating in the peace talks, while his intended target is also present as part of the Ukrainian delegation.

This has led to skepticism within Kyiv regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.