Volodymyr Zelensky has broken his silence on the progress of the ongoing talks between leading Ukrainian, Russian, and US officials. The three delegations have concluded talks on the first day of a two-day summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they seek a peace breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The three-way talks come hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the settlement in Ukraine with Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during marathon overnight talks. The Kremlin insisted that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but never fully captured. Zelensky said after meeting with Trump that while the future status of land in eastern Ukraine currently occupied by Russia remains unresolved, the peace proposals are “nearly ready.” The Ukrainian president has now addressed the first day of talks in a video released on his X account, insisting one key condition must be met by Russia.

He wrote alongside this video: “Ukrainian diplomatic team reports almost every hour from the UAE, where a conversation took place today involving the Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations. They are discussing the parameters for ending the war.

“By now, our team should already have at least some answers from Russia. The key is that Russia must be ready to end the war it started.

“Ukraine’s positions are clear. I have defined the framework for dialogue for our delegation.

“As for the substance of today’s discussions, it is still too early to draw conclusions. We will see how the conversation develops tomorrow and what results it produces.

“It is necessary that not only Ukraine has the desire to end the war and achieve full security, but that a similar desire somehow emerges in Russia as well.”

The high-stakes summit is being closely watched across the world as pressure intensifies to finally bring the brutal conflict to an end.

The talks mark the first time since the full-scale invasion began that senior officials from all three countries have met together in an attempt to broker a ceasefire. However, hopes of a breakthrough remain fragile amid sharply opposing demands from Kyiv and Moscow.

Territorial disputes remain the main obstacle in negotiations – particularly in the eastern Donbas region. Vladimir Putin has insisted that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the remaining parts of Donetsk that Kyiv still controls, despite Russia failing to fully capture the area during years of fighting.

However, Zelensky has refused to give up any land, with analysts and polls suggesting little public support in Ukraine for territorial concessions. The Kremlin has said that full control of Donbas remains a “very important condition” for peace.

The Ukrainian president has also revealed he has secured security guarantees from the United States, which he says are crucial to any lasting agreement.

He described the two-day Abu Dhabi summit as “a step – hopefully towards ending the war”, but warned that many possible outcomes remained.