Russian, Ukrainian and US delegations ended two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. It was their first face-to-face meeting since February. US envoy Jared Kushner said the sides agreed to “the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners,” and the numbers are still being finalized. Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky confirmed a new large-scale swap. He said the sides found common ground on some points but not on others.
The main gaps remain. According to state media, Medinsky said there was “no possibility whatsoever” of territorial exchanges. He also said Russia’s “security zone” along the border is expanding and will keep expanding. Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said “significant differences remain.” Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia was more upbeat, citing “good momentum” toward a solution before the new year. Ukrainian, US and European representatives met separately after the formal session. Strikes continued on both sides throughout the talks.
US envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff are expected to travel to Moscow and then meet Zelenskyy in Dublin on Thursday.
Source: AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa
So What
The prisoner swap is a real but limited win. Exchanges have been the one area where both sides reliably agree. On the core issues, little appears to have moved. Medinsky’s rejection of territorial swaps and his talk of an expanding buffer zone could be a hardline opening position ahead of the Moscow visit. It could also be a genuine signal that Russia plans to keep advancing. The second read seems more likely. A deal before the new year looks highly unlikely.
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