Negotiations in Abu Dhabi: between hope for peace and unwillingness to give up.
A new round of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States is scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi. Washington hopes to bring the parties closer to a peace agreement, but Moscow and Kiev are still divided on key issues.
Nubia Izvestia found out from political scientist Vadim Kozhulin what to expect from the meeting and what agreements could be the first step towards a settlement.
"So far we see a willingness to negotiate, but not a willingness to give up. Progress is possible if the parties start discussing not only their demands, but also mutual obligations," the expert noted.
The main contradiction relates to security guarantees. Ukraine is seeking commitments for its defense, while Russia opposes Kyiv's entry into NATO and the placement of foreign forces on Ukrainian territory. According to Kozhulin, the positions of the parties on this issue are "completely opposite".
The ceasefire is equally controversial. Kyiv offers to stop fighting first, Moscow believes this should be part of the final agreement. The territorial issue also remains unresolved, and the expert admits that it will not be discussed at all in the next negotiations.
The Russian delegation, according to published data, will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, the Ukrainian - Rostam Umerov. European representatives will not participate directly in the meeting. As Dmitry Peskov explained, the United States and Ukraine have separate channels of interaction with European countries.
At the same time, the absence of a major peace agreement does not mean the failure of the negotiations. The parties can agree on humanitarian measures, military cooperation or the timing of the next meeting.
"I would measure success in small steps: were new humanitarian measures agreed upon, were working relationships established between the army, were the topics and timing of the next round determined. Even a limited agreement will be important if it is implemented," Kozhulin emphasized.