Russian and Ukrainian officials plan to begin two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations this Tuesday, their first face-to-face talks since February. The meeting follows President Donald Trump’s suggestion last week that a broad peace deal could be possible in the war, now more than four and a half years old, and might also incorporate European security.
European powers, including France, Germany and the European Commission, will send officials to the talks in Abu Dhabi. Russia, however, has firmly rejected direct European participation in the negotiations.
Trump has frequently claimed that a deal to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War is close, although no agreement has actually materialised. Talks have nevertheless regained momentum in recent weeks after U.S. attention was diverted for months to the war in Iran.
There is still no sign, however, that President Vladimir Putin is willing to abandon his demand that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas region before any peace agreement can be signed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also firmly refused to surrender territory that Ukrainian troops have died defending. Article: Rithy
