Ukraine, Russia, and US meet in Abu Dhabi for peace talks

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ABU DHABI, UAE — Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the February 2022 invasion to conduct trilateral talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

The meetings, which began on Friday and are expected to continue through Saturday, mark a significant step in diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as a "promising step toward ending the war," noting that the discussions are primarily focused on the future status of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Demands and security guarantees

The Kremlin remains firm on its requirement that Ukrainian forces must completely withdraw from the Donbas region, calling it a "key condition" for any lasting agreement. To bridge the gap, the United States has reportedly offered security guarantees to Kyiv in exchange for transforming the Donbas into a free trade zone. President Zelensky recently met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos to discuss these guarantees, emphasizing that any final agreement would require approval from both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.

The 20-point peace plan

The ongoing diplomatic push follows reports that a U.S.-prepared 20-point peace plan is nearly 90% complete. Key elements of the discussed framework include:

• Zelensky has signaled a willingness to withdraw Ukrainian troops 40 kilometers from currently controlled areas in Donetsk, provided Russia reciprocates.

  
  

• The proposal explores the creation of a demilitarized zone or a special economic zone within the Donbas region.

• International forces would be tasked with monitoring the current front lines to ensure compliance with a ceasefire.

• The U.S. has offered a potential 15-year security guarantee to Ukraine to maintain stability following an agreement.

Zelensky criticizes European 'Greenland Mode'

During his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Zelensky sharply criticized European leaders for what he termed "Greenland Mode"—a perceived passivity while waiting for instructions from the United States. He urged Europe to take a more active role in its own defense and the geopolitical resolution of the conflict rather than relying solely on American leadership. Meanwhile, U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, describing their three-hour meeting as "sincere and constructive".

www.wisenewspress.com