Putin confirms peace talks with Ukraine and the US next week. European Union off the table

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced trilateral peace talks with Ukraine and the U.S. scheduled for next week in the UAE, excluding the EU. This marks the resumption of direct dialogue after over ten months. The discussions will focus on security guarantees for the involved parties and will take place behind closed doors in Abu Dhabi. Putin expressed gratitude to the UAE for their ongoing support in humanitarian exchanges and political mediation. The announcement follows preparatory meetings in Brussels where Ukraine coordinated with Western allies regarding reconstruction and defense funding.