Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met on Friday in Abu Dhabi with American officials for discussions on peace in Ukraine. The parties did not disclose full details, noting that the discussions will continue on Saturday. However, according to a US official, quoted by Suspilne, the meeting was productive, reports IPN.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that it is too early to draw conclusions after the first round. He added that it is necessary not only for Ukraine to have the desire to end the war and achieve full security, but a similar desire must also arise from Russia.
On Friday in the United Arab Emirates, there was the first face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials, alongside American negotiators, since the beginning of the war.
The meeting took place in a context where several Ukrainian regions are facing disruptions of electricity and heat, caused by the destruction of the country’s energy infrastructure following Russian attacks.
The trilateral discussions took place shortly after representatives of the American president, Donald Trump, met in Moscow with the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, a meeting followed by the American leader’s encounter with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos.
Earlier, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, reiterated Russia’s demand for the Ukrainian army to leave the part of Donbas (Donetsk and Lugansk regions) under Russian control. In turn, Ukraine has repeatedly stated that giving up the part of Donbas controlled by its forces, which includes a fortified belt of well-defended cities and localities, would reward Russia for its aggression and leave Ukraine vulnerable to new attacks.
