Russian, American, and Ukrainian negotiators gathered in Abu Dhabi to resume peace talks over the war in Ukraine for the first time since February, NPR reported.
President Trump said that he believes peace is achievable during this round of negotiations. U.S. negotiators at the meetings include presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
While thousands of additional soldiers and civilians have died over the past nine months, the front line in eastern Ukraine remains essentially frozen. Ukraine managed to erase minimal Russian gains during a fall offensive earlier in the year, according to NPR’s reporting from Kyiv by Eleanor Beardsley.
Putin demands Donbas territory while Ukraine defends its red lines
Vladimir Putin has not wavered from his maximalist demands. He wants Ukraine to surrender the remaining 20% to 30% of the Donbas region that Russian forces have not yet conquered.
Ukrainian officials maintain that this territory is a red line because a fortress belt of cities in the region protects the rest of the country. Meanwhile, cities like Kyiv are bracing for another winter of Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure.
“We see no reason for Putin to suddenly agree to some sort of peace deal,” said Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian lawmaker, telling NPR that she expects Russia to use the winter to plunge Ukrainians into the cold and dark.
U.S. midterm elections shift congressional support for Ukraine
Recent midterm elections in the United States delivered a repudiation of President Trump and his policies. Ukrainian lawmakers view the shift with cautious optimism regarding future congressional support.
“For us, it’s a hopeful sign. And it sort of raised the level of optimism in Ukraine with regard to our relations with the United States because American people and the Congress has always been on the side of Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, telling NPR.
For Russia, however, the U.S. midterm results arrive alongside favorable policies from the current administration, such as a recent waiver of sanctions on diesel that helps finance the war. Analysts suggest Putin may attempt to extract maximum concessions from the White House before a new Congress takes office in January.
European representatives observe talks as Washington seeks security frameworks
U.S. officials speaking on background indicate that Washington aims to build a long-term security framework encompassing all of Europe rather than just Russia and Ukraine. Representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy are present in Abu Dhabi but are not participating directly in the talks, a dynamic that has caused apprehension across European capitals.
Kremlin watchers note that the one-on-one format with Washington suits Moscow’s strategic preferences. The Russian delegation now includes the top Kremlin official who delivered an ultimatum to NATO demanding a pullback to 1997 borders immediately prior to the full-scale invasion.
Who represents the U.S. and what does Russia demand?
Who is representing the United States at the Abu Dhabi talks?
The U.S. delegation is led by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
When was the last round of peace talks held?
Peace talks between the parties had not taken place since February prior to the current meeting in Abu Dhabi.
What specific territory is Russia demanding?
President Putin demands that Ukraine surrender the remaining 20% to 30% of the Donbas region that Russian forces have been unable to conquer.
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