ABU DHABI: Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have started a second round of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, seeking progress toward ending Europe’s largest conflict since World War Two.
The two-day trilateral meetings — involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia — began on Wednesday, Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Telegram. He added that the teams would hold separate discussions on specific issues before reconvening for a joint session to align their positions.
The talks follow claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Russia took advantage of a U.S.-backed energy truce last week to stockpile weapons, launching a record number of ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine on Tuesday.
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, significant disagreements remain. Moscow is demanding that Kyiv withdraw its forces from the entire eastern Donetsk region, including heavily fortified areas considered among Ukraine’s strongest defences.
Ukraine has rejected this, insisting that any agreement should freeze the conflict along the current front line instead of requiring a unilateral pullback.Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas. Military analysts say Russian forces have captured an additional 1.5% of Ukrainian land since early 2024.
Another major point of contention is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which remains under Russian control. Polls indicate that most Ukrainians oppose making territorial concessions to Russia. Residents of Kyiv told Reuters they doubt the latest talks will produce meaningful results.“Let’s hope that it will change something. But I don’t believe it will change anything now. We will not give in, and they will not give in either,” said Serhii, a 38-year-old taxi driver.
