Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “satisfied” with the shift in the U.S. approach to the talks with Russia, which will continue today in Abu Dhabi, while insisting, however, that it is essential for his country to receive security guarantees.
Kyiv and Moscow began talks yesterday in Abu Dhabi, mediated by Washington, hoping to make progress toward resolving the conflict and, according to the U.S., to work on a “new” security framework that would also include Europe. This is the first meeting between the warring sides since February.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The talks are expected to resume today at 12:00 p.m. local time (10:00 a.m. Cyprus time), according to a source from the Russian delegation, with key items on the agenda—as Zelenskyy explained— “de-escalation measures” on key issues related to energy and the Black Sea.
Zelenskyy appeared rather optimistic after the first day of talks. “I see changes. I am very satisfied with what I am hearing. We’ll see what can be done,” he told reporters in Copenhagen.
According to him, the talks—in which U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Whitecoff are participating—addressed the key issue of territory.
Moscow is demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region, but Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv needs “very specific security guarantees” on this issue.
Security Architecture
Jared Kushner called for the creation of a “new” security framework for Ukraine, Russia, and Europe in order to ensure “decades, or even centuries, of peace.”
The Russian position was similar: resolving the war in Ukraine “is only one part” of the discussion “the ultimate goal of which is to create a security architecture” for the entire European continent, a source from the Russian delegation noted.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Moscow prefers to negotiate a broad framework for European security before addressing the specific aspects of the war. “The idea of establishing clear parameters for a future security architecture—and only then moving on to resolving the conflict itself between Russia and Ukraine—makes perfect sense,” he said. Zelenskyy, however, expressed his reservations.
“We are all very cautious about this issue because no one actually understands 100% what they want,” he said. “Everyone is ready for dialogue. First, stop the war in Ukraine. Second, security guarantees for Ukraine. Third, perhaps some dialogue on the issue of security in Europe and the world,” he added.
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented that broader talks on security should take place only after a ceasefire has been achieved. Lavrov rejected the idea of a ceasefire, arguing that the Europeans are seeking to secure a respite for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the new U.S. initiative to reach an agreement prompted European officials to demand their inclusion in the negotiations.
Prior to the trilateral negotiations, the Ukrainians held separate talks with representatives from Europe, NATO, and the European Union, as well as with the two U.S. envoys.
France assessed that lasting peace is not possible without addressing the issue of European security and that Europeans must participate in this process.
The majority of European governments have avoided contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the war. The prime ministers of Finland and Norway spoke with him by phone on October 27, a move that was criticized by some of their European counterparts.
Russia had made it clear that it did not believe there was a place for Europeans at the meeting with the Ukrainians and Americans.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Paris, stated that the U.S. aims to expand the trilateral talks so that Europe can be included at some point.
On this issue, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of European participation in the process. “By November, no later, we must decide who will represent Europe in the negotiations,” the Ukrainian president stressed.
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Source: APE-MPE
