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Abu Dhabi - U.S. officials have urged a "new" security framework during the initial day of U.S.-led talks between Ukraine and Russia, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's expressed satisfaction with the shift in approach by U.S. mediators. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East, facilitated negotiations between the conflicting parties, aiming to craft a "solution" to Europe's most severe conflict since World War II.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, praised the discussions as "very productive" and called for European participation in the talks, as they are integral to resolving the issue. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described the talks as "constructive and quite substantive," highlighting discussions on humanitarian matters and security assurances.

He emphasized the need for Europe to select a representative for the negotiations. Zelenskyy also mentioned the possibility of a "large-scale exchange of prisoners" and the involvement of U.S. officials in Russia to discuss the matter further. Zelenskyy noted the mediators' efforts to create a new security framework between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe, which would ensure "decades, if not centuries, of peace."

Moscow, having previously threatened Western countries with the withdrawal of troops from Eastern Europe, is pushing for this priority. Ukraine has cautioned against a "Yalta 2.0," referring to Western leaders' potential division of Europe similar to the Soviet Union's post-World War II actions. European Union has emphasized that security arrangements can only be discussed after a cease-fire.

Russia has dismissed multiple ceasefire proposals and vowed to continue its assaults on Ukraine, which experienced a power outage affecting thousands as temperatures dropped. Russia includes a diplomat who previously demanded NATO's pullback from Eastern Europe, signifying its commitment to revisiting Europe's long-standing security arrangement.

A Russian delegation source stated that ending the war is "merely one item on the agenda," with Moscow's primary objective being the review of security for the entire continent. Kyiv's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with the U.S. envoys and European, EU, and NATO officials before the negotiations. The top U.S. and NATO generals in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, are also part of the discussions.

Both Europeans and Ukraine, along with the U.S. and NATO, reiterated their "shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture." Umerov reiterated Ukraine's priorities, which remain the cessation of hostilities and security assurances. "Our people are waiting to end this war," he stated. As the discussions continued, Ukrainian and French foreign ministers in Paris commended U.S. efforts to facilitate "partial truces," which could serve as a "first step towards a complete and unconditional ceasefire."

Last month, a local truce in Ukraine's Kherson region, brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, was the longest pause in fighting during the war. Ukraine is also seeking post-war support for its military, demanding at least ten years of financial backing to sustain an 800,000-strong army capable of defending against potential future Russian attacks.

There exists significant skepticism in Ukraine towards Trump's intentions, as he suggested during the talks that Kyiv may need to relinquish territory, stating that they will end up with a "different shape." Russia's military continues to advance westward but has yet to capture the entire Donetsk region, and Moscow demands that Kyiv surrender the portions of the besieged area it controls.

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that permitting Russia to dictate Europe's borders would be a grave error while hosting Zelenskyy on Tuesday. Russia continues to strike Ukraine and its energy infrastructure, heightening concerns about another winter without heating, water, or electricity for millions of Ukrainians. Russian attacks killed four people in Ukraine on Tuesday, according to local authorities.