RFE reporter Raufoglu says that no deal is expected to be finalized as a result of the negotiations in Abu Dhabi:
As US representatives point out, Russia still displays hostility towards the Europeans, whom Moscow blames for the collapse of the previous agreements in Istanbul. But the United States wants to go beyond trilateral negotiations and move to a broader multilateral format with the participation of European countries. Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy, as well as NATO, the European Union and Ukraine are expected to join the discussion on security guarantees and the European security architecture in the post-war period.
Security guarantees will be a key element - officials say Washington has invited Russia to agree to a mechanism that would provide Ukraine with protection similar to that provided by NATO Articles 4 and 5. One US representative noted that the final decision on any commitment from Washington would depend on Trump, emphasizing that Europe must bear the main financial burden.
The territorial issue remains unresolved - Russia continues to insist on control over the entire Donetsk region, while Ukraine advocates maintaining the current contact line. US officials said the two sides showed some flexibility during closed-door talks, but stressed that issues of territorial structure and post-war security must be discussed at the same time - and ultimately resolved as a whole. An agreement is not expected to be signed in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to clarify the positions of the parties, identify the remaining disputes and lay the foundation for further negotiations.