US Secretary of State: There's good news and bad news from Abu Dhabi talks on Russo-Ukrainian war

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said there is both good and bad news from the talks in Abu Dhabi on settling Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Rubio at a press conference, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Rubio noted that this is the first time in a very long time that technical military teams from Ukraine and Russia have met, in a forum that also includes US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Quote: "I don't want to say that talks alone are progress, but it's good that there's engagement going on. I would also caution everyone that on things like this, because there is a lot of sensitivity involved in it, progress is probably not going to be known, even via leaks, until we really have a breakthrough. Our goal is to remain committed. We've committed a year to this. We think we've made real progress."

More details: Rubio said the good news is that the "checklist of open items" between Ukraine and Russia has been "substantially diminished".

Quote: "That's the good news. The bad news is that the items that remain are the most difficult ones. And meanwhile the war continues. So, all I can say in that regard is that we are investing, at a very high level, a substantial amount of time and energy to this endeavour. We're going to continue to do everything we can to see if there's a breakthrough."

Background:

• The trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates come immediately after a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine. Following the latest strikes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the work of the Ukrainian delegation at the peace talks would be adjusted.
• The talks are expected to continue on Thursday 5 February.
• The Ukrainian delegation is preparing a report for Zelenskyy on the outcome of the first day of talks on 4 February.

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