ABU DHABI — A first day of US-led talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi ended Tuesday, with Washington calling for a "new" security framework, as Europe fears US President Donald Trump plans a deal with Moscow on the continent's future.

 

Negotiations to end more than four years of war -- the first since February -- lasted for several hours in the Gulf city and are set to continue Wednesday.

 

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators sat facing each other, with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and business partner Steve Witkoff at the head of the table.

 

Kushner told delegates the US had "narrowed the gaps" between the warring sides -- without providing details -- and hoped to move towards a "solution that hopefully ends the war".

 

As the talks opened, Kushner said the US hoped to "create the right security relationships between Ukraine and Russia and Europe so that not only we end this war, we create a new framework and a new understanding" that will secure "decades, if not centuries, of peace".

 

Moscow has also suggested that this was its priority.

 

Ukraine has warned against a "Yalta 2.0" -- referring to Western leaders dividing Europe with the Soviet Union after World War II -- and the EU has said security arrangements can only be discussed after a ceasefire.

 

Moscow pushes security review

 

Before launching its 2022 invasion, Moscow had issued an ultimatum to NATO to roll back troops from eastern Europe.

 

In a sign that it wanted to revive the conversation, Moscow sent the diplomat who issued the demand, Sergei Ryabkov, to Abu Dhabi.

 

The head of Moscow's delegation, Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky, said he hoped Moscow's "more professional" team will help "move forwards" towards peace.

 

A Russian delegation source earlier said that settling the Ukraine war was just "merely one item on the agenda" and that Moscow's main objective was reviewing security "for the entire continent".

 

Kyiv's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov met the US envoys and European, EU and NATO officials ahead of the negotiations.

 

NATO's general in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, is also taking part in the talks.

 

In a joint statement, the Europeans, Ukraine, US and NATO reaffirmed their "shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture".

 

Ukraine pushes for truces

 

Umerov said Kyiv's priorities remained securing a ceasefire and security guarantees.

 

"Our people are waiting to end this war," he said.

 

As talks continued, Ukrainian and French foreign ministers in Paris commended US efforts to push for "partial truces" which could serve as a "first step toward a complete and unconditional ceasefire".

 

Last month, a local truce in Ukraine's Kherson region brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump became the longest pause in fighting during the war.

 

Kyiv is also pushing post-war support for its army.

 

A senior Ukrainian source told AFP Ukraine wanted at least 10 years of financial support to sustain a 800,000-strong army able to defend any future Russian attack.

 

The US leader hinted ahead of the talks that Kyiv might have to give up land, saying: "They're going to end up with a little bit different shape."