Washington DC, Nov. 9 -- The US says it sees a real chance of progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, as Russian, Ukrainian and American delegations prepare to meet in Abu Dhabi from Tuesday. But US officials cautioned that no deal will come quickly.

In a briefing for journalists on Monday, held on condition that remarks be attributed only to US officials, they said the aim was to establish a more regular rhythm of negotiations. Contacts with Moscow and Kyiv have become daily, sometimes several times a day, since US envoys visited both capitals in September, they said.

Talks had stalled earlier this year, the officials said, after a Ukrainian attack on a residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and then the outbreak of the Iran...