Delegations from both countries are meeting in Abu Dhabi, along with mediating US envoys. In an initial statement on what they have reached, US envoy Steven Witkoff announced that the countries will exchange 314 prisoners each.
After Wednesday's talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck an optimistic tone, saying a prisoner exchange looked possible. His chief negotiator, Rustem Umyrov, described the talks as "substantive and productive."
Ahead of Thursday's talks, Russia's negotiator Kirill Dmitriyev told state-run Tass that progress was being made, but also accused European countries of trying to interfere and "disturb the process."
Wants the whole region
The Russian side has so far presented it as if it is up to Ukraine to reach a solution. "Until then, Russia's military operations will continue," said President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov while the talks were underway on Wednesday.
Russia is, as far as is known, completely adamant in its demands that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region. The region is largely under Russian occupation, but not entirely. Russian forces are advancing on the front line, but at a very slow pace and with heavy losses.
Last week, Russia was said to have agreed to a week-long ceasefire as a sign of goodwill during very cold weather in both Ukraine and Russia. But in Ukraine, Russian attacks continued, and when the week ended a relatively large wave of Russian attacks was directed against the country.
Guarantees against new wars
The other big question is what security guarantees Ukraine should receive to prevent Russia from attacking again in the future. One proposal, reported by the Financial Times, would involve Ukraine's allies in Europe being deployed if there are any violations - with the US stepping in if a violation lasts for at least three days.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was in Kyiv on Wednesday and described the security guarantees proposed as "rock-solid."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has reiterated that Russia will view foreign forces in Ukraine as legitimate military targets, without specifying whether this would apply even in peacetime. In the Russian propaganda newspaper Izvestia, some commentators said a NATO presence in Ukraine 'will inevitably lead to future attempts at revenge.'
