UAE talks focus on details, avoid fundamental issues
Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4 (Photo: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS)
While the repeated rounds of Ukraine–U.S.–Russia negotiations in Abu Dhabi have produced results on the minutiae of enforcing a future ceasefire in the Russo–Ukrainian war, the delegations continue to sidestep fundamental questions of how the conflict may eventually be settled.
This was the analysis Ukrainian political scientist Ihor Reiterovych gave NV Radio on Feb. 6. He noted that there has been significant movement on force disengagement, ceasefire monitoring, and responses to ceasefire violations during the talks, but discussion of where the dividing line will ultimately run keeps getting postponed.
“From what we know, the logic of the negotiation process has been somewhat disrupted,” Reiterovych said.
“Will any third parties be involved, such as UN peacekeepers or other observers? Will there be monitors like those the OSCE once deployed? These are strategic matters, and by all accounts there has been progress on them,” he said.
But Reiterovych argued that such issues are secondary to the top priorities: ending hostilities and fixing the demarcation line.
“It’s as if we started reading a book at the third act or from the end and are working backwards,” the expert said.
“So when [head of the President’s Office] Kyrylo Budanov says the talks were constructive and there has been progress, he’s absolutely right, on certain points there really is progress. Maybe some draft documents are even ready to go. But the problem is that the main issue isn’t being addressed.”
The second round of trilateral talks among Ukraine, Russia, and the United States wrapped up Feb. 5 in Abu Dhabi. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the three delegations agreed on a prisoner exchange and he expects additional progress in the coming weeks.
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