In a significant development, delegations from Russia and Ukraine are set to convene in Abu Dhabi for peace talks brokered by the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that recent military successes have bolstered his country's position at the negotiating table, while highlighting Russia's alleged record losses - a claim disputed by Moscow. The meeting marks the third round of talks this year, following previous consultations in January and February. US President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are leading the American delegation and have been instrumental in Washington's mediation efforts. The talks come amid optimistic statements from both sides, with Trump expressing a "strong inclination" towards ending the conflict and Zelenskyy urging the US to persuade Russia to cease hostilities. A US official revealed that both parties have shown some flexibility on a potential land exchange, although security guarantees for Ukraine will be central to negotiations. The war, which began nearly five years ago when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has remained elusive to settlement. Any territorial agreement is expected to come at the end of the negotiations, following resolution of other issues such as a post-war security framework. European powers, including France, Germany, and the European Commission, will be present during the talks but Russia has expressed reluctance for their direct involvement in negotiations. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has sounded a note of caution, stating that the peace process still has "a ways to go."