Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials took place last week in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speaking at a news conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, after addressing the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) leaders’ summit on Thursday, Putin noted that the meeting was attended by "a US administration representative" and that the event took place at Kiev's initiative.
"The presence of US representatives at the Abu Dhabi talks came as a surprise," he said.
Putin went on to say that the US has informed Moscow it would send a delegation in the first half of the coming week, adding that its composition is "solely Washington's decision.”
Regarding the published peace draft, Putin said Moscow sees that the US is incorporating some Russian positions, but other points require serious discussion.
Retaliatory measures
Putin said Moscow would end its Ukraine offensive if Kiev withdrew from territory Moscow claims as its own; otherwise, they would take it by force.
"If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations," Putin said.
"If they don't, then we will achieve it by military means."
Putin also said that Russia is preparing a package of retaliatory measures in response to potential seizures of Russian assets in Europe.
He warned that any move to confiscate Russian assets would be "a theft of property" and would harm the global financial system.
Putin said he was surprised by US sanctions against Russian oil companies.
Sanctions are destroying Russia's relations with the United States, Putin added.
