Sheikh Abdullah attends third round of Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral talks

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has expressed hope that the third round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi will offer "practical steps towards ending a crisis".

He added that the crisis, which has persisted for nearly five years, has resulted in immense humanitarian suffering.

Sheikh Abdullah affirmed that hosting the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi reflects the international community’s confidence in the UAE’s role as a trusted facilitator of dialogue, and reflects its strong and balanced relations with the three countries.

He also commended the efforts of US President Donald Trump in facilitating these talks, reinforcing stability, and advancing political solutions.

Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed the UAE’s firm belief that conflicts can be resolved through dialogue and de-escalation and offered support for advancing efforts towards a political settlement of the crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the UAE for providing a "reliable venue" for the negotiations. He said the discussions prioritised the release of war prisoners, humanitarian measures and long-term effective security guarantees.

Zelenskyy described the trilateral talks, preceded by meetings with European and American partners, as "constructive and quite substantive" in a statement on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. 

The Ukrainian president added he instructed Ukraine's delegation to bring peace closer during Wednesday's talks and subsequent discussions with US representatives and European partners.

Meanwhile, speaking in Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the first day of talks in the UAE were "very productive", according to Ukrinform citing Sky News.

Rubio said Washington aims eventually to expand the trilateral format to include European allies at the negotiating table as part of a long-term solution.