Russian and Ukrainian officials held their first US-brokered peace talks since February in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The meeting followed US President Donald Trump’s remarks last week that a broad agreement could end the war in Ukraine and provide security guarantees for Europe.

US envoy Jared Kushner told delegates that recent discussions with both countries had helped reduce differences. He said Trump remained committed to securing peace.

"He really has asked us to put extra effort into trying to find a solution that hopefully ends the war but also leaves both sides in a much stronger position to start pursuing the full potential of what their two amazing countries can reach," Kushner said at the start of the meeting.

However, Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on the terms of a possible settlement. More than four-and-a-half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Moscow continues to control around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said Kyiv was focused on securing guarantees for its safety and achieving lasting peace. Russia's delegation head, Vladimir Medinsky, said Moscow hoped the discussions would help advance peace in the interests of both countries.

The latest US push for a peace agreement has prompted European leaders to demand a role in the negotiations. They want to ensure that any settlement also addresses the continent's security concerns.

Before the main meeting, Ukrainian officials held separate discussions with representatives from Europe, NATO and the European Union, along with US envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff. France said lasting peace would remain impossible without addressing European security and involving European countries in the process.

Russia, however, has made clear that it does not want European representatives at the talks with Ukraine and the US.

Trump said Washington had seen a "very strong inclination" towards ending the conflict. He added that both sides were "tired of fighting". After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy at the White House last week, Trump predicted that a peace agreement could emerge soon. However, his earlier claims of an imminent deal have not produced an agreement.

Meanwhile, there is no public indication that Putin is ready to withdraw his demand for Ukraine to surrender the entire eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected giving up territory that Ukrainian forces have defended.

Russia's advances on the battlefield have nearly stalled this year. However, Moscow continues to target Ukrainian cities and energy facilities. Ukraine has also intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure.

A Russian delegation source said the main focus of the discussions would be developing a new post-war security framework for Europe.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine's recent battlefield gains, including the recovery of territory in Donetsk, had strengthened its negotiating position. US negotiators believe both leaders could consider limited territorial compromises. Under the proposed arrangement, Ukraine would receive an end to the war, security guarantees and a roadmap towards European Union membership.