LITTLE PROGRESS DURING RUSSIA-UKRAINE-U.S. TRILATERAL TALKS IN ABU DHABI. TALKS TO RESUME IN RUSSIA
Written by Michael Thervil
[RUSSIA UKRAINE U.S. ABU DHABI] Today concluded the second round of trilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine in the West Asian nation of Abu Dhabi with a third round of trilateral talks set to occur at the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin tomorrow. While the Americans are making the claim that progress was made, Russia is taking the position that all nations involved have found some common ground that could be used to further talks. Progress being made or common ground be found between the nations, many hard questions to other issues have yet to be solved during today's 90-minute meeting.
Also present at today's meeting were European Leaders. Russian Negotiators questioned both the motive and reason as to why European Leaders were present considering the fact that they have played a major reason as to why the war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for so long due to them providing both military and financial support. Supporting this position are the words of retired Russia Colonel Viktor Baranets:
“We did not ask Europe to interfere in these trilateral negotiations, but a whole gang of consultants and advisers nevertheless rushed to Abu Dhabi. They were not allowed at the table. Russia is essentially saying: you have no place not only at the table, but even under it. Nevertheless, these European whisperers are operating around the negotiations, and Ukrainian diplomats regularly run to them for consultations during breaks”.
Augmenting this statement, Kremlin spokesman Peskov stated “the statements we hear from the Europeans do not indicate any desire on their part to contribute to progress along a peaceful path”.
Ukrainian officials pushed for a ceasefire so that they could have the opportunity to “discuss security” while Russia aggressively pushed the notion that a ceasefire would be useless “without political agreements”. Supporting their position were the words of formal Colonel Viktor Baranets “We do not need a short-term ceasefire. We need a comprehensive agreement designed to last not a week, not two weeks, not a month, but many, many years”. According to both Geopolitical Analysts and War Strategist, Ukraine may be seeking to use a ceasefire as a way to rearm and diverse ways to execute a new offensive against Russia, while Russia appears to be focused on not only maintaining superiority and dominance on the battlefield, but keeping consistent pressure on Ukraine in order to keep Ukraine’s war footing “off balance”.
While today's trilateral meeting resulted in an agreement for a large-scale prisoner of war exchange which would take place in roughly two to three weeks, territorial differences between Russia and Ukraine still remain unsolved. Russian Negotiators stood firm on their position for “every inch” of Russian land to be “returned to Russia one way or another”. Although European officials were present, they remained on the sidelines and were reduced to being observers of today's trilateral talks. Germany, Italy, the U.K., and France provided guidance to Ukraine intermittently throughout the course of the meeting with Russia. Analysts have interpreted such actions as Ukraine being not only unsure on how to successfully negotiate with Russia, but Ukrainian officials appeared to demonstrate them negotiating with Russia from a position of weakness.
It has been announced that following tomorrow's meeting in Russia with President Vladimir Putin, another round of talks will be had in Dublin, Ireland to debrief Zelensky during the EU Leaders Summit.
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