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New Delhi: US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia began in Abu Dhabi on Friday, with Moscow once again pressing Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region, a demand Ukraine has firmly rejected.
According to the United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry, the negotiations will continue over two days and are aimed at encouraging dialogue and exploring political solutions to the ongoing conflict. The ministry’s statement was quoted by Reuters.
The meeting involving delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia comes a day after US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. It also followed talks held earlier between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following the discussions, the Kremlin reportedly restated its long-standing position on eastern Ukraine. "Russia's position is well known on the fact that Ukraine, Ukrainian armed forces, have to leave the territory of the Donbas," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.
Ukraine has described such terms as unacceptable, noting that it currently controls around 20% of the eastern Donbas region. President Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv remains open to economic initiatives in the east, including the creation of a free trade zone under Ukrainian control, according to Associated Press.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting, Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed three people in the Kharkiv region and four others in eastern parts of the country, highlighting the continued hostilities even as diplomatic efforts are underway.
