The Ukrainian side met the envoys of Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during the consultations, according to RBC-Ukraine, which cited Arakhamia. The aim was to compare positions and coordinate steps before the next stage of negotiations.
According to the Financial Times, the US administration is trying to persuade Russia to agree to Europe's inclusion in the negotiating process. Sources cited by Politico also said Witkoff and Kushner intend to push for European participation.
Witkoff commented on the meeting between representatives of the United States, Ukraine and European partners. According to him, the sides want to move to multilateral negotiations involving European partners, TV Rain reported.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that representatives of European countries would be present at the talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, Reuters reported.
According to the FT, Washington's efforts are likely to be received with relief in Europe. The Trump administration's proposal last week to agree a new "framework concept" for European security with Moscow alarmed European capitals. They insist that European countries must take part in any such talks, and that a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine must precede any discussion of European security issues.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the sides in Abu Dhabi would discuss above all the security of Russia, Ukraine and security in the region as a whole. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio named security guarantees for Ukraine as the key issue at the talks.