Ukraine negotiations: Russia insists on Donbass

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his call for the annexation of four Ukrainian territories during negotiations in Abu Dhabi. There was also no agreement on the desired ceasefire. Meanwhile, the question of what role Europe should play in further talks is coming into focus.

No breakthrough in sight. Russia and Ukraine have agreed on an extensive prisoner exchange in direct negotiations with the participation of the USA. However, there was no result regarding a ceasefire in the Ukrainian war or the future territorial division of the country. The negotiations in a three-part format will take place on Tuesday and WednesdayAbu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In the run-up to the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had called for an end to the war, security guarantees for Ukraine and, optionally, a dialogue on the issue of security in Europe.

In addition to the symbolic exchange of prisoners, both sides discussed their positions on ensuring future security in Abu Dhabi. However, a security agreement does not yet exist and nothing concrete has been published. Nevertheless, Zelenskyj was satisfied on the first day of negotiations: “I see changes.” Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky only reported that agreement had been reached on some points, but not on others. The RIA news agency, in turn, quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying that there was a basis for further work. Russia also praises the role of US mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the talks.

No movement on territorial claims

How far apart the positions of Russia and Ukraine actually are was, however, revealed at theOnward travelWitkoffs and Kushners to Moscow clearly. When the two negotiators met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he reiterated Russia's demand for a complete annexation of the former Ukrainian administrative regions (oblasts) of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

Russia had already declared this to be Russian territory in 2022, but parts of the areas are still under Ukrainian control militarily. In particular, the issue of Donbass, which includes the two oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been a red line for both sides in the past. If the area were to fall entirely to Russia, this would give Moscow a strategic gateway into central and southern Ukraine, which could threaten important cities such as Dniepropretovsk (Dnipro) and Kharkov (Kharkiv).

In the talks with Witkoff and Kushner, Putin emphasized that there was only one possible border line for Russia with Ukraine, namely the official Russian external border. However, Ukraine categorically rejects the withdrawal of its troops from Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as formal cessions of territory.

Who speaks for Europe?

Another question in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia was the future diplomatic integration of the European powers. After the talks in Abu Dhabi, Kushner emphasized that the Europeans had to be “at the table” and also mentioned this to Putin. He replied that Russia had never been against talks with the Europeans. But the USA should work with the European states so that they decide whether they want war or peace. Europe should also appoint a negotiator. Kushner had also called for this: “If Europe could identify a person to speak on its behalf, that would be a greater success than getting the Russians to participate.”

In fact, US negotiators in Abu Dhabi had held talks with representatives of Germany, France, the UK, Italy, the EU and NATO in parallel with the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations. It was about possible European contributions to security guarantees for Ukraine and coordination of American and European negotiating positions. In addition, the G7 foreign ministers published a joint statement at a meeting in Paris in which, among other things, they called for a ceasefire and continued military aid and financial support for Ukraine.

After meeting Putin in Moscow, the Witkoff and Kushner duo will next travel to Dublin, where Zelensky and leading politicians from EU states are staying, among other things, for an informal EU summit on Friday. Witkoff and Kushner want to inform Ukraine and the Europeans in Dublin about the results of the talks with Russia. At their summit, the EU states also want to discuss who should speak for Europe in the Ukraine negotiations.

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