US announces possible compromises between Russia and Ukraine ahead of the Abu Dhabi negotiations / “It is the first time we have seen a real desire on the Russian side to conclude”

Russia and Ukraine are privately showing signs of flexibility regarding a possible territorial compromise, ahead of the talks mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The information was conveyed Monday by a U.S. official, who said that the Donald Trump administration views the possibility of progress with cautious optimism.

Security guarantees for Ukraine will be one of the main topics of discussion. Among the options being considered is providing protection similar to that stipulated by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which obliges allies to support an attacked member state.

However, the official positions of the two sides remain profoundly different. Ukraine is calling for Russia to return to the borders that existed before the 2022 invasion, while President Vladimir Putin is seeking to take control of the entire Donbas region. According to the U.S. official, the issue of territories is expected to be addressed toward the end of the negotiations, after other elements of a possible agreement have been established, including the postwar security architecture.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will lead the discussions in Abu Dhabi. The official did not rule out the possibility that they might subsequently travel to Russia for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. “This is the first time I feel that we are seeing a real desire on the Russian side to end” the war, he said.