Trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and America begin in Abu Dhabi

According to reports from Hindustan Times, DW, The Moscow Times and The National, senior officials from Russia, Ukraine and America started trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. This meeting has been convened as part of Washington's ongoing efforts to broker an end to the conflict. This two-day session is being held in the UAE as Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches 56 months, or a period of nearly 5 years. This is the first time talks are taking place between Russia and Ukraine since the two sides met in Geneva in February.

Both Russia and Ukraine are sending senior and experienced negotiators with prior experience in peace summits for these talks. The Russian delegation is being led by Vladimir Medinsky, a close associate of Putin and Kremlin adviser, who has led Moscow's team since the March 2022 Istanbul talks. This group also includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, and Yuri Zhygarlovsky, deputy chief of the General Staff's operational department.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation is Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service and a veteran of previous talks. According to reports, this team also includes Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Sergiy Kyslytsya, and David Arakhamia, parliamentary leader of Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party. US White House special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law) are mediating these talks and leading the American delegation.

Before the main talks began, the Ukrainian delegation met with representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, as well as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Rustem Umerov stated on social media that this meeting was held to align their positions and coordinate steps before the next phase of talks. European Union representatives are not expected to directly participate in the main trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and America, but they will be present on the sidelines.

Territorial control is a major point of disagreement between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin demands that Ukraine should cede four annexed regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - which Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but has never fully captured. He also demands that Ukraine drop its bid to join NATO, accept strict limits on its military, and lift bans on the regional language and the Moscow-affiliated Orthodox church in Ukraine. Putin insists on a peace agreement entirely on Russia's terms and rejects a temporary ceasefire, as this would give Ukrainian troops a chance to rest and acquire weapons.

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected demands to cede captured territories or limit the Ukrainian military. Ukraine's firm stance is that a ceasefire is the first step towards a comprehensive peace settlement. It also claims that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is the only way to resolve territorial issues. Ukraine and Europe fear that America may pressure Kyiv to make territorial concessions favoring Moscow.

Despite diplomatic efforts, military hostilities between the two countries continued on Tuesday. According to a TASS report, Ukrainian drone attacks in the Luhansk city in the Russian-controlled region and other parts disrupted the power supply. According to Interfax reports, Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its forces attacked a cargo ship and a tanker in the Black Sea. Another cargo ship was also attacked east of the Odesa port.

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the trilateral talks, stating that both countries are tired of fighting. Addressing a press conference, Trump said that the meetings are going well because 25,000 people are being killed every month. Jared Kushner stated on social media that a comprehensive and lasting settlement will also require direct engagement on security arrangements between Russia and European partners, and the Abu Dhabi discussions will set the stage to begin that engagement soon.

According to Wikipedia background reports, this conflict began in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people. Earlier too, prisoner exchanges have taken place between the two countries through UAE's mediation.