Policy

Ukraine, the US, and Russia held their first talks: what Zelensky said

The first talks between the diplomatic teams of Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation have already taken place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The meeting is being held in a trilateral format, which has not been used for a long time. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his Telegram channel, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".

During his evening address, Zelensky stated that it is too early to draw final conclusions about the content of the negotiations taking place in the United Arab Emirates with the participation of Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations.

According to the president, Ukraine currently faces many challenges, including in the diplomatic sphere.

What Zelensky said

According to the head of state, the Ukrainian delegation is constantly informing him about the progress of the negotiations.

“Ukrainian representatives report to me almost every hour — they are currently in the Emirates, where Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations are meeting today. This is important because there have not been such trilateral meetings for a long time,” Zelenskyy said.

The president stressed that the parties are discussing the parameters of a possible end to the war in Ukraine, and the negotiators should receive at least some clear answers from the Russian side.

“Russia must be ready to end the war that it started,” Zelensky emphasized.

Who represents Ukraine in the negotiations

The president outlined the framework for dialogue defined for the Ukrainian delegation and named the key participants in the negotiation process.

“Ukraine’s positions are clear. I have defined the framework for dialogue for our delegation. The delegation is in constant contact with Rustem Umerov, Kirill Budanov, David Arakhamia, and Serhiy Kyslytsya. Tomorrow, General Gnatov, Chief of the General Staff, and representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate Skibitsky will also join the negotiations,” the Ukrainian leader said in a statement.

Zelensky noted that it is too early to draw final conclusions, but the very fact that a trilateral dialogue has begun is an important signal.

What they are talking about in Abu Dhabi

The trilateral format involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia has not been used for a long time, which makes the current meeting politically sensitive and significant.

The key topic is territory. According to Zelensky, one of the central issues of the negotiations is the territorial aspect, in particular the situation around Donbas.

At the same time, the Russian side has already publicly outlined its position. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that without resolving the “territorial issue,” peace agreements are allegedly impossible. According to him, the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas is an “important condition” for Russia.

Ukraine’s position

The President of Ukraine stressed that Ukraine’s position remains clear, and any agreements are possible only if Russia has a genuine desire to end the war.

“It is important that the desire to end the war comes not only from Ukraine, but also from Russia,” Zelensky emphasized.

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