Ukraine, Russia wrap 'productive' first day of US-backed peace talks
(VOVWORLD) - Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a "productive" first day of new US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, Kyiv's lead negotiator said on Wednesday.
"The work was substantive and productive, focused on concrete steps and practical solutions," Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, wrote on X.
A US official also called the talks productive and said they would continue on Thursday morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was critical for the talks to lead to real peace. He also said Ukraine expected the talks to lead to a new prisoner exchange soon.
The president said the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the conflict was estimated at 55,000.