Abu Dhabi: Efforts to end the war in Ukraine have taken a new turn after reports confirmed that secret talks supported by the United States were held recently in Abu Dhabi. The discussions reportedly included representatives from the United States military leadership as well as officials connected to both Russia and Ukraine.

According to a Reuters report the meeting was part of a developing framework aimed at exploring possible terms for a peace agreement that could bring an end to the conflict which began in February 2022. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country was ready to move forward with the discussion process and indicated that he was open to talking directly with United States President Donald Trump on points that still remain unresolved.

Sources familiar with the talks said earlier drafts of a United States sponsored peace proposal contained conditions that Ukraine objected to.

Those conditions reportedly included limits on the size of the Ukrainian military and restrictions on future security partnerships. Some versions also mentioned demands related to control of territory currently occupied by Russian forces.

Following Ukrainian objections the plan has been revised and negotiators say the latest version contains fewer disagreements. Reports say United States officials believe Ukraine has now agreed to the new framework except for a few final points that need clarification. However Ukraine has continued to firmly reject any deal that requires surrender of territory taken by Russia during the war.

The Financial Times reported that the meeting in Abu Dhabi marks one of the most serious attempts in months to move the war toward negotiations instead of continued battlefield escalation. Diplomats say it could lead to a face to face discussion between Kyiv and Washington if progress continues. At the same time Russia has not publicly commented on the talks and has continued military operations including recent drone and missile strikes inside Ukraine.

European leaders are watching the developments closely. Some have raised concerns that decisions made without strong European involvement could set a precedent for future regional agreements. Zelenskiy also stressed that any long term settlement must include guarantees from both the United States and Europe in order to protect Ukraine from future attacks.

Despite these diplomatic efforts the situation on the ground remains tense and dangerous. The continued attacks serve as a reminder that the war is still active and that the negotiations remain uncertain.

For now the peace talks are viewed as a cautious but hopeful step. Whether they will lead to a final agreement remains unclear. Both Ukraine and Russia continue to hold strong positions and important issues such as territory and security guarantees are still unresolved.

Observers say the coming weeks could determine whether the discussions become the start of a wider diplomatic breakthrough or another attempt that ends without progress.