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Trilateral Talks Discuss War in Ukraine and Dispute Over Donetsk, Main Obstacle to an Agreement.
The Russia Ukraine Negotiations enter a new phase this Friday (23), when representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States meet in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The meeting marks the first known round of trilateral talks between the three countries since the large-scale Russian invasion began in 2022.
The discussions are being mediated by the U.S., involve diplomatic and military leaders, and focus primarily on the territorial issue of Donetsk, deemed crucial for any agreement that could end the War in Ukraine.
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Trilateral Talks Attempt to Break Historical Impasse
The trilateral talks are taking place during a period of strong diplomatic deadlock.
According to Russian authorities, there is no prospect of a lasting agreement without a clear definition of territorial control in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin emphasizes that the dispute over Donetsk is the main obstacle to ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, Kyiv maintains a firm position.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian sovereignty is not negotiable, even in the face of Russian military pressure and the prolonged toll of the war.
Donetsk at the Center of the War in Ukraine
The territorial issue of Donetsk concentrates the greatest divergences between Moscow and Kyiv.
The region is part of the Donbas, a strategic area in eastern Ukraine, rich in resources and industrial infrastructure.
Since 2022, Donetsk has been a battleground and symbolizes the most sensitive dispute of the War in Ukraine.
Currently, Russian forces control almost all of neighboring Luhansk.
In Donetsk, however, Moscow still faces Ukrainian resistance in about 20% of the territory, amounting to approximately 5,000 km².
For the Kremlin, the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these areas is an essential condition to advance negotiations.
Putin Hardens Rhetoric and Bets on the Battlefield
President Vladimir Putin asserts that Donetsk is part of Russia’s so-called “historical lands.”
In 2022, Moscow announced the annexation of the region after referendums widely rejected by Kyiv and Western countries, which labeled the process as illegitimate.
A close Kremlin advisor warned that without resolving the territorial issue, a long-term agreement should not be expected.
According to him, Russia will continue to pursue its goals “on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces hold the strategic initiative,” until a political definition is reached.
Zelensky Rejects Territorial Concessions
On the other hand, Volodymyr Zelensky asserts that he sees no justification for conceding Donetsk.
For the Ukrainian government, any territorial concession would open dangerous precedents and undermine national sovereignty.
The majority of countries recognize Donetsk as an integral part of Ukraine.
Thus, Kyiv counts on international support to uphold its position in the Russia Ukraine negotiations, even in the face of military and diplomatic pressure from Moscow.
U.S. Diplomacy Seeks to Narrow Negotiations to a Key Point
The talks in Abu Dhabi come after a meeting of over three hours between Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys, including diplomat Steve Witkoff.
Hours before traveling to Moscow, Witkoff stated that the negotiations were “reduced to a single issue,” indicating that an agreement could be feasible.
“I think we’ve arrived at a single issue, and we discussed several versions of that issue, which means it can be resolved,” he said during an event in Davos on Thursday (22).
Subsequently, a European official confirmed to CNN that the mentioned issue was indeed the territorial dispute involving Donetsk.
Who Is Participating in the Trilateral Talks
The Russian delegation is led by Admiral Igor Olegovich Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
The Ukrainian delegation includes Andrii Hnatov, deputy head of the presidential office and chief of the General Staff.
The meetings are scheduled for Friday (23) and Saturday (24), with expectations of intense debates and uncertain outcomes.
Nonetheless, the meeting represents a rare direct channel for dialogue amid the prolonged War in Ukraine.
Why the Russia Ukraine Negotiations Are Crucial Now
After more than two years of conflict, the human, economic, and geopolitical costs of the war are pressuring the involved parties.
Thus, the Russia Ukraine negotiations in Abu Dhabi emerge as an attempt to break an impasse that has only worsened so far.
Although the atmosphere remains cautious, diplomats assess that the mere fact that Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington are at the table signals a relevant shift.
The outcome, however, depends entirely on the capacity to advance on the territorial issue of Donetsk — the most sensitive point of the entire conflict.
See more at: What the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine Should Discuss in Their First Trilateral Meeting | CNN Brasil
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