Zelensky Challenges Russia’s Donbas Claims Presented at Abu Dhabi Talks

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators wrapped up two days of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, with both sides reporting some progress but acknowledging deep differences remain. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner said the talks produced agreement on "the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners" in the nearly five-year war, with numbers to be finalized Thursday. Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said a peace deal now seems closer, adding "I think so yes" when asked by state TV, but cautioned that much depends on Ukraine, the US stance, and "whether Europe comes to its senses." Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia described "good momentum" toward a solution before the new year and hoped for another session "as soon as possible." US mediators said a lack of trust persists and differences remain on territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Copenhagen, welcomed what he called "changes" in the US approach and said he was "very happy with what I hear" from Witkoff and Kushner, while insisting Europe must have a seat at every stage of real diplomacy. Medinsky was cool on European participation, saying it was "unclear" what Russia and the EU had to discuss given Moscow had received "not a single peace initiative or a single concrete peace proposal from European countries." The talks came as fighting continued: Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Ust-Luga Baltic oil port, causing a fire and damaging five tanks, while a Russian strike on a market in Ukraine's Odesa region killed three people and injured 11. One person was killed and two injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Belgorod region. Zelensky said he will meet Witkoff and Kushner in Dublin on Thursday after they travel to Moscow to see President Vladimir Putin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz may also speak with Putin following a "broad understanding" reached in Abu Dhabi among European, US and Ukrainian officials — not with Russia, a German spokesperson clarified. Zelensky separately ruled out ever forgiving Putin, saying Russian society must take full responsibility for the war and that Putin receives distorted information about the front lines. Kyiv has strongly rejected Russian demands to surrender all of Donbas in return for peace.