As both of them declare that they are ready for the continuation of the tripartite talks in Abu Dhabi at the end of the week, the details of how the discussion went over the weekend leave no doubt about the fact that now the main (perhaps the only) issue that remains open is the territorial issue, specifically its issue.
In comments earlier today at X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the main topic of discussion was military issues in the trilateral talks with the US and Russia, but that political issues were also discussed. “Preparations are now underway for new tripartite meetings this week,” he wrote on Platform X.
Moscow is immovable for the territorial
For its part, the Kremlin has argued that the territorial issue remains fundamental for Russia to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was quick to clarify that Moscow continues to have demands on it. As Peskov emphasized: “It is no secret that this is our firm position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance for the Russian side.”
What is the “Anchorage formula” and what are the positions of the two sides on the territorial
The “Anchorage formula” refers to what Russia says was agreed between US President Donald Trump and Putin last August at a summit in Alaska, according to a source close to the Kremlin.
The alleged deal, according to the same source, calls for Ukraine to hand over control of the entire Donbas to Russia and freeze front lines elsewhere in eastern and southern Ukraine as a condition of any future peace deal.
Kiev has repeatedly said it will not gift Russia territory that Moscow has failed to win on the battlefield.
According to Russia’s state-run RIA news agency, Peskov said Moscow appreciated what he called “constructive talks” with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
The talks, under the auspices of the United States, ended without an agreement, but more talks are expected next weekend.
Rutte’s intervention against Europe and in favor of the US for the loan
At the same time that the issue of security guarantees appears to have been essentially agreed, at least between Ukraine, the US and the EU, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte argued in his statements that the countries of the European Union should show flexibility in how Ukraine can use the 90 billion euro loan from the EU to purchase weapons and finance its state budget. According to him, the Union should not impose “we buy European” at all costs.
“I would very strongly urge you to ensure flexibility in how these funds can be spent and not be too restrictive with ‘Buy EU’-type clauses,” he told MEPs.
As he added, “Europe is now building its own defense industry, and that is vital, but at the moment it cannot even mentally meet the needs that Ukraine has to defend itself today and prevent threats tomorrow.”
