Russia, Ukraine hold peace talks

ABU DHABI:

Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first peace talks since February as US President Donald Trump's envoys launched a new push to end the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the US-brokered meeting as very productive, without giving details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said humanitarian issues had been discussed and that security guarantees were on the agenda.

The meeting followed US contacts with both sides in recent weeks that Trump's representative Jared Kushner said had narrowed gaps between their positions.

Addressing delegates at the start of the meeting, Kushner said Washington had some good ideas on how to make progress, and Trump was committed to achieving peace.