Following the first day of trilateral negotiations, although Ukraine delegates and U.S. special envoys both described the talks as “constructive,”  Russian officials have adopted a more reserved tone, refraining from offering a definitive assessment of the progress achieved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the discussions as “constructive and quite substantive,” noting that they addressed both humanitarian concerns and security matters. Speaking to reporters later in Denmark, Zelenskyy expressed satisfaction with the messages he had received from the two U.S. presidential envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

“I see changes. I am very happy about what I hear,” Zelenskyy said.

In a post on X, he elaborated: “The release of prisoners of war is a priority. They spoke in detail about the substance of security guarantees for Ukraine and the foundations for ensuring these guarantees function over the long term.”

Following the conclusion of the first day, Kushner also wrote on X that he was “encouraged by the constructive discussions today.” He emphasized that the U.S. side is working to end the war and “establish the security arrangements necessary for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine and lasting peace across Europe.”

In contrast, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov struck a more cautious note, stating that it is too early to evaluate the meeting ahead of a second day of talks scheduled for Wednesday. Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, who is heading Moscow’s delegation, told Vesti news outlet that Russia and Ukraine have moved closer to peace following the talks in Abu Dhabi

At the same time, he noted that much now depends on all participants in the process. "A lot depends on Ukraine, the position of the United States, and whether Europe comes to its senses. In any case, all the objectives we have set will be achieved," Medinsky stressed. 

Most analyst believe that expectations for a substantive breakthrough from the resumption of trilateral talks remain very low.