Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss disputed territories as well as the Russian-occupied Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZAES). Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated this in an interview with the newspaper Jevropejska Pravda, writes TASR.
- Zelenskyy is ready to negotiate with Putin about the territories and the Zaporizhia Power Plant.
- The key unresolved questions are the territories and the fate of the Zaporizhia Power Plant.
- Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire Donbas, Ukraine refuses.
- The United States proposes joint control of the power plant, Kyiv demands the departure of the Russians.
- US-brokered negotiations continue in Abu Dhabi, deal remains uncertain.
In response to a question about the negotiations to end the war held in Abu Dhabi with the participation of the delegations of Russia, Ukraine and the United States, Sybiha confirmed that two key issues remain unresolved: the territories and the fate of ZAES. Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all areas of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, including those not occupied by the Russian army.
Ukraine considers this demand unacceptable. Kiev is also insisting on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, while the United States proposes joint control of it with Russia. According to Sybih, President Zelensky is ready to meet with Putin to discuss and resolve these two issues.
The DPA agency added that Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed his willingness to hold a personal meeting with Putin in the past, but the Russian president has expressed doubts about the usefulness of such talks. On the sidelines of the signing of the agreement to end the war, Sybiha said that the upcoming peace plan – according to him – will be signed by Ukraine with the United States and separately by the United States with Russia. He added that The EU will not sign this document.
“Even if the EU does not sign the document, it cannot contain any clauses that have not been agreed upon by European allies. This is fundamental,” explained Sybiha. He added that such a framework is currently being discussed. However, negotiations are still ongoing, and they are challenging.
Over the past weekend, negotiators from Ukraine and Russia conducted the first direct negotiations mediated by the United States in the United Arab Emirates after many months. Talks are expected to resume on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
