Russia–Ukraine peace talks conclude in Abu Dhabi with prisoner exchange agreement but no breakthrough on territory
The trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, held in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, have ended. The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a prisoner exchange, and that the central topic of the talks was the European security system, on which the sides “found mutual understanding in some areas, but not in others.” As expected, there were no breakthroughs on the other topics. The question of territory remains the main obstacle, and according to the assessment of the American negotiators, there is no trust between the sides. At the same time, Ukraine has suggested that a deal with Russia could be reached “by the New Year.”
Territory
Territory was expected to be the main topic on the second day of talks, but it still remains “the hardest,” U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said. Medinsky, for his part, said “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia.”
Security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia
Kushner said there has been “significant progress” on security guarantees for Ukraine. Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, also said there had been “huge progress” on security issues but gave no details. Russia’s demands for security guarantees for itself were discussed separately as early as the first day of talks, Ukrainian sources said, though what the two sides arrived at remains unknown.
European security system
Medinsky said the European security system was a central topic in the talks, and that on some issues “it was possible to find mutual understanding.” However, he said, “the whole organism is essentially sick,” and in Ukraine “an abscess has simply burst,” adding, “a band-aid won’t fix this.” The Russian delegation did not communicate with the Europeans in Abu Dhabi, he added, and said Russia does not understand in what capacity they were there.
Prisoner exchange
Medinsky said Russia and Ukraine “have agreed in principle on a new large-scale prisoner exchange.” Specific parameters of the exchange will be announced “in the near future.” Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said the exchange will be one of the largest, and “possibly even the largest overall.”
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