First talks on ending the war in Ukraine 'productive', according to the US

The first day of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine was described as "very productive" by U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. Although he did not participate directly, he acknowledged the significant work ahead. This marked the first direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine since February, with low expectations for breakthroughs. Both sides showed some flexibility during the four-hour meeting, attended by officials from Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. President Zelensky called the talks "constructive" and expressed a desire for further discussions. However, European representatives were not present, raising concerns about U.S. decisions affecting European interests. Russia's Lavrov stated that discussions on a ceasefire would follow talks on European security architecture, while the EU insists a ceasefire must come first. New talks are scheduled for tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, with previous meetings yielding limited progress but some agreements on prisoner exchanges.