As trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine are set to restart Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), observers are voicing low expectations, saying that resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a distant goal.
The talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, mark the first face-to-face meetings since negotiations stalled in February.
Security and a ceasefire will top the agenda. The United States and the UAE will serve as lead mediators, with European representatives also joining to monitor the negotiations.
Russia and Ukraine are sending their top diplomats, military commanders and intelligence officials to Abu Dhabi.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the talks would be an opportunity for a breakthrough, but many observers remain doubtful.
"This round of talks is not expected to yield decisive results. In the foreseeable short term, resolving this issue is a far-fetched goal, but agreement over marginalized or less important issues could still be reached. That would allow both parties to survive the next phase of the conflict. Ukraine's resources are far more depleted, especially because Europe is focused on its own unrest and the United States has pulled back from the issue -- even arms that used to go to Ukraine are now flowing to the Middle East," said Azza Hashem, managing director of the Al Habtoor Research Center.
Analysts said security guarantees along the Russia-Ukraine border, the safety of ships in the Black Sea, the fate of territories gained by both sides over the past four years, and Kiev's position on NATO membership are among the many other key unresolved issues blocking an agreement.
Observers doubtful about major breakthroughs in Abu Dhabi trilateral talks
Observers doubtful about major breakthroughs in Abu Dhabi trilateral talks
High-quality tilapia raised in Maoming City of south China's Guangdong Province now has greater access to dinner tables across the Asia-Pacific, as China deepens trade ties with regional markets.
In Maoming, tilapia ponds cover more than 17,000 hectares, making the city one of the world's major tilapia production hubs.
The city has been developing its tilapia industry for more than six decades, building it into a sector now worth over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars across the entire supply chain. Its products are sold in more than 70 countries and regions, including markets throughout the Asia-Pacific.
Early in the morning, while mist still hangs over the ponds, fish farmers are already out hauling in the catch. "The workers arrived at the pond at around 05:30 this morning. There are 17 people here to pull in the net. There's quite a lot of fish in this net, about 75 tonnes. That's why it's taking longer to haul it in," said Chen Wenqiang, head of the Aquaculture Department of a local agricultural technology company.
Chen belongs to a new generation of aquaculture professionals who emphasize eco-friendly practices to further improve fish quality.
"Fish need beneficial bacteria to keep their digestive systems healthy. Good fish farming starts with good water, so [the pond] also needs probiotics for better water quality. That is why we add probiotics during the fish farming process to improve both the fish's gut health and water quality. This helps keep the fish healthier and enables us to use fewer or no chemical materials, which makes our fish safer to eat," he said.
China is the world's leading tilapia producer and exporter, and much of Maoming's harvest is destined for overseas markets. Once taken from the ponds, the fish are quickly transported to processing plants, where they are sorted, cleaned and filleted before being frozen for shipment.
The latest data shows the city exported 74,000 tonnes of tilapia in the first half of 2026, up more than 51 percent year on year.
The foundation of this large-scale industry lies in high-quality fish fry, whose quality determines growth speed, disease resistance and, ultimately, the quality of the final product that reaches consumers.
"We have been operating for 22 years. We have achieved leading technical capabilities in areas such as selective breeding, nutrition, and land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Furthermore, we have brought together a team of world-class experts, and we currently hold a leading position in the market," said Cai Xingqi, general manager of a local fish fry breeding company.
Maoming's tilapia industry stands as a fine example of food trade between China and other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. In the first three quarters of 2026, food trade between the two sides reached nearly 120 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for more than half of China's total food trade.
China’s tilapia ascends to dining tables of Asia-Pacific countries
