Abu Dhabi Talks End With Further Ukraine Discussions Planned

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi with Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky reporting common understanding on some issues, continued disagreement on others and plans for further discussions. He also said the sides had agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, with details to be announced soon.

Medinsky made the remarks after the meetings, which included U.S. representatives. He said a potential European security framework was a central topic and described the discussions as ongoing. His account of the exchange and progress was repeated in two reports, both based on his statements; the parties had not publicly provided its terms or timing in the material reported.

Medinsky said no peace initiatives or concrete proposals had come from European countries and questioned what Russia and the European Union could discuss without them. He said Russia would consider proposals if they were made. A Russian diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, separately described a continent-wide European security arrangement as the negotiations’ main objective and a settlement in Ukraine as subordinate to it. That account reflects the source’s characterization, not...