Abu Dhabi:Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov announced "huge progress" in peace negotiations with Russia, highlighting advances in discussions on security and prosperity. This statement was made during a joint news conference in Abu Dhabi following US-mediated talks between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Umerov expressed gratitude to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for their roles in facilitating the discussions. These talks, which have included European participation, have taken place in various formats over the past year. Although Umerov did not provide specific details, he emphasized the progress achieved in the negotiations.

David Arakhamia, leader of Ukraine's ruling Servant of the People faction, described the talks as "one of the toughest" they have experienced. He expressed hope for a significant prisoner swap between Moscow and Kyiv, an initiative announced by Kushner earlier at the news conference. Arakhamia also mentioned the potential expansion of the talks from a trilateral to a multilateral format, while acknowledging "big progress" on other issues that remain undisclosed.

The peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which began on Tuesday, marked the first direct three-way sessions since February's discussions in Geneva. Kushner informed reporters that he and Witkoff would travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and finalize the details of the agreed-upon prisoner swap.

Arakhamia explained that the difficulty of the talks stemmed from the "very strict directives" presented by the Russian delegation, which left little room for compromise. Despite the challenges, Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, noted that neither side issued ultimatums during the negotiations.