The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, will host a new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation on November 10 and 11, marking the first direct meeting between the two delegations since last February. These talks come amid US efforts to push both sides toward a settlement that ends the war, while ongoing disagreements persist regarding Ukrainian territories, security guarantees, and post-war arrangements.
Delegation Formations and Divergent Positions
The Russian delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Medinsky, while the Ukrainian delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. The US side is represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Special Presidential Envoy Jared Kushner. Kyiv insists that any settlement must include guarantees preventing a resumption of the war and must not force it to relinquish territories it controls. Meanwhile, Russia insists on a tripartite negotiation format, refusing the participation of European representatives in direct negotiation sessions.
Disagreements over Donbas and Security Guarantees
The issue of land remains the most significant obstacle to reaching an agreement. Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donbas region, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuses to cede territories controlled by his country. Ukraine places security guarantees at the core of any potential agreement, alongside a halt to attacks on energy facilities and ensuring navigation in the Black Sea. The US administration is seeking to discuss security arrangements for Ukraine and Europe in the post-war phase.
European Participation and Separate Meetings
For his part, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that what will take place in Abu Dhabi is "tripartite negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation," clarifying that European participation may become necessary at a later stage. In this context, the Associated Press reported that US envoys intend to hold separate meetings with representatives from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, NATO, and the European Union to discuss security guarantees and European security arrangements before the scheduled talks with Russia and Ukraine.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that his country will be represented in the Abu Dhabi talks, emphasizing the necessity of European presence in discussions concerning the future and security of the continent. The current round takes place amid ongoing military operations and exchanges of attacks on infrastructure, placing negotiators before a dual task: seeking to halt escalation and reaching an applicable political and security framework.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)