Ukrainian and Russian negotiators ended the first day of talks in Abu Dhabi, supported by the U. S., aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These two-day discussions follow accusations from Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that Russia took advantage of a recent energy truce, leading to increased missile attacks on Ukraine. The talks are being attended by U. S. officials, and the delegations are meeting separately on specific topics before coming together for joint discussions.
Amid the talks, Russian forces launched an attack on a market in eastern Ukraine, resulting in multiple casualties. There are significant differences between Ukraine and Russia on key issues. The U. S. administration under President Trump is encouraging both parties to find common ground, but progress has been slow. Central points of contention include Russia’s demands for Ukraine to cede control of certain territories and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region as a condition for any agreement, while Ukraine seeks to maintain its current defensive positions and has refused to unilaterally withdraw its forces.
Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that military actions would continue until Ukraine made satisfactory decisions to end the war. Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory, with reports indicating minimal territorial gains since early 2024. Despite these pressures, a majority of Ukrainians oppose concessions that would result in losing land to Russia, reflecting skepticism about the talks’ potential success. Many citizens express doubt that the negotiations will lead to meaningful changes.
In a related development, leaders from China and Russia reaffirmed their relationship while discussing the situation in Ukraine, with Beijing positioning itself as a potential mediator.
With information from Reuters
