Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have started another round of talks in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, trying again to figure out a way to end the nearly four-year war.
The US is brokering it, but it is still not clear when the full US team will arrive, some sources said. Rustem Umerov, who leads Ukraine’s team, wrote on social media that talks had begun and Kyiv wants “to achieve a just and lasting peace,” also many people are not very hopeful because the first round last month didn’t get far. Some people are saying it’s very tense, very uncertain, and it means the situation is still fragile.
The talks are for two days and this discussion is taking place after President Zelenskyy said Russia broke a deal brokered by former US President Donald Trump to stop attacking energy infrastructure. Russia carried out a big drone and missile strike just before the talks, hitting the energy grid, knocking out power and heating, in freezing winter temperatures, which also makes things worse for civilians. Zelenskyy said this shows Moscow is still betting on war, and does not take diplomacy seriously. “The work of our negotiating team will be adjusted accordingly,” he said, without giving more details. Some Ukrainians are hoping maybe there will be a pause on strikes targeting energy infrastructure after these talks, but many are skeptical, also because very little progress was made last time.
The main issue is the fate of territory in eastern Ukraine. Russia occupies large parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, also wants Kyiv to pull back troops from Donbas and recognize annexed land. Ukraine says conflict should stay along current lines and will not accept one-sided withdrawals. Security guarantees are also a big issue, it means Kyiv does not want to be vulnerable again. Opinion polls show most Ukrainians are against giving land to Russia even for peace, and this shows public opinion is very strong on that.
Russia claims about 20 percent of Ukraine and warned it could take the rest of Donetsk if talks fail. Kyiv is asking Western allies for more weapons and more pressure on Moscow. Delegations include Umerov for Ukraine and Igor Kostyukov for Russia. Also Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev met US officials in Florida recently, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff called discussions “productive and constructive,” though no details were released. Also people are saying the talks may or may not produce results, it’s hard to tell.
For now, the second round is ongoing, attacks are still happening, civilians are worried, energy systems damaged, negotiations continue, and it is unclear what will happen. Also the conflict’s anniversary is coming soon, which adds pressure, and people are watching closely, some hopeful, some skeptical. Observers say chances of a breakthrough are very uncertain, and it means this could take longer, also tensions remain high, and it shows that diplomacy is slow.
Source: Al Jazeera News