Representatives from Moscow and Kiev ended initial talks mediated by Washington, focusing on territorial criteria and security guarantees
The first round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, , without disclosing details about a final agreement, but with the promise of continuity. After two days of meetings behind closed doors, the parties agreed to maintain the dialogue, with plans to possibly resume next week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives of the United Arab Emirates classified the atmosphere of the talks as “constructive”. In a message on the social network X, Zelensky stated that “many topics were discussed” and highlighted the importance of the conversations taking place in a positive way. Ukrainian delegates also reported to the portal Axios that the meeting was productive.
Talking Points
According to sources linked to Russian agencies and official statements, the negotiating tables dealt with documents about territory, security guarantees e criteria for ending the war. However, the main obstacle remains the situation in eastern Ukraine.
Russia, which sent a delegation composed exclusively of military personnel and led by the head of the military intelligence service (GRU), Igor Kostiukov, considers it essential to withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbass region. “This is a very important condition,” warned Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov. An official Russian source reinforced to the agency TASS that, without a territorial solution, there is no point in waiting for a long-term agreement.
On the other hand, Ukraine demands security guarantees that oblige the United States and European allies to defend it in the event of new aggression, in accordance with Article 5 of NATO. Zelensky stressed the need for the U.S. “supervise and control the process of ending the war.” Moscow, however, categorically opposes the deployment of troops westerners to neighboring territory.
Our delegation delivered a report; the meetings in the UAE have concluded. And this was the first format of this kind in quite some time: two days of trilateral meetings. A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive.
The negotiations also…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa)
European exclusion
The negotiations take place in a critical scenario for Kiev. While the talks were taking place, Ukraine reported nighttime Russian bombings that left dead and injured in the capital and Kharkiv, in addition to affecting the energy grid amid temperatures of -10°C. “Their missiles not only hit people, but also the negotiating table,” declared Zelensky.
This round of negotiations takes place far from Europe e without the participation of the European Union. In Davos, Zelensky criticized European “fragmentation” and the bloc’s lack of political will in the face of Vladimir Putin. The current format, mediated by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was approved after prior meetings between Trump and Zelensky and US envoys with Putin in Moscow.
The delegations are expected to return to their capitals to report the progress of the discussions to their leaders and coordinate the next steps.
*With information from AFP and EFE
