The latest trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates took place a day after Russia launched its most massive strike against Ukraine this winter.

Little has been made public so far, but negotiators were expected to talk about the fate of Ukrainian territory in the east and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Some NATO countries worry using any version of the term “Article 5” for Ukraine defense could weaken its deterrence.

Steve Witkoff said it would be the first exchange for months, one that showed "advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine."

Ukraine's defence forces carried out a series of strikes in January, including with Flamingo missiles, on the Kapustin Yar test range in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, where the Russians have deployed the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile system.

U.S., Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are back around a table for a second round of technical talks, but in Kyiv, Russian bombs bring suffering and skepticism.

Envoys from Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Abu Dhabi for U.S.-brokered talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war