Russia and Ukraine have agreed to realise the largest exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the war, during two-day talks mediated by the United States of America to Abu Dhabi.
However, the parties have not noted significant progress towards a broader agreement on the outcome of the war.
In these talks, the first of this level since February, both sides were represented by high-level delegations. The meetings were led by US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Jared Kouchner and Steve Witkoff, reports The Guardian.
Ukrainian delegation senior member David Arakhamia said the Russian delegation had come to talks with very strict instructions, making it difficult to approach positions between the two countries.
However, he praised that major progress has been noted in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine after the war ended.
I believe we have a good dynamic to reach a solution before New Year’s Eve, Anrakhamia said.
Jared Kouchner also expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement, stressing that negotiations are complicated and that war has created a very sensitive situation.
He said the parties have the necessary elements for a deal, but must find the right way to bring them together in a concrete solution.
Kouchner announced that the planned exchange is expected to include more than 1,000 prisoners from each side. According to him, this process will help unite families, build confidence and create a more favourable atmosphere for peace.
US envoys are expected to travel to Moscow on Thursday, where they will discuss the results of talks in Abu Dhabi with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Later, they will go to Dublin, where they are expected to meet with Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky, and representatives of several European countries.
However, the most difficult issue in negotiations remains that of territories, for which the parties have not yet reached reconciliation.
Russia continues to seek full control over the Donba region, including territories currently controlled by Ukraine, as well as parts of two southern regions that have not yet occupied them.
Russian official Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Moscow delegation, reiterated Russia’s harsh stance on territorial claims.
Every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, in one way or another, he said, adding that Russia will be satisfied with negotiations only when peace is achieved on its terms.
Medinsky also called for the creation of a new security system in Europe, which he compared to the historic agreements of Yalta and Potsdam, reached after World War II.
This stance has raised concerns among European countries that the United States and Russia can reach a broader security agreement on the continent without direct involvement of European states.
Russia seems to be returning its requests NATO in 2021. These included preventing further expansion of the Alliance, thus excluding Ukraine’s membership, limiting NATO’s presence of forces and weapons in countries that joined the Alliance after 1997, as well as restrictions on deploying missiles.
These demands were rejected by Western countries as unacceptable. A few weeks later, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, concerned that the future of European security could be decided without their participation, several European governments sent representatives to Abu Dhabi to influence the negotiations process, though they are not believed to have participated directly in the talks.
Source Layer: Dukeagini