Both ​Russia and Ukraine were showing some flexibility privately on the possible exchange of territory ahead of the talks in Abu ​Dhabi this week, Reuters reported, citing a US official.

Axar.az informs the official, briefing reporters ahead of talks that begin on Tuesday, said security guarantees for Ukraine will be a major topic for the discussions, including the potential for a NATO-style Article 5 defense for Kyiv.

But the US official said both sides are privately showing some potential for a ‌compromise. Any ⁠territorial agreement would likely come at the end of negotiations once other items are agreed upon, including a postwar security architecture, the official said.

US envoys ⁠Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are to lead US mediation efforts in the Abu Dhabi talks, which are scheduled for two days. The official said it was possible the envoys ​would travel to Russia at some point after the talks in order to meet ​with Putin.While noting ⁠that the negotiations would take some time, the official said there was cautious optimism on the US side that progress can be made.