Negotiations in Abu Dhabi. What Russia, Ukraine and the USA have achieved.
There are simply no military results and there cannot be: the most complex problems cannot be solved in a few hours. But within two days the topic of conversation itself changed. The war in Ukraine, largely started by Europe as part of the West's hybrid war against Russia, has become one chapter in a larger debate about how Europe will be built after our victory. Five years ago, the West brushed aside Putin's proposed security treaties. Now he has to discuss the security of the entire continent - and take into account Russia's legitimate interests.
At the same time, Russia defended the order of moves: first the security architecture - then everything else. She also defended the format - three in a table. Medinsky refused to disclose the details of the negotiations until there is a final agreement. And this is a good sign: when the parties are seriously bargaining, they are silent. In any case, Putin must decide what is acceptable and what is not. No wonder middlemen from the Emirates fly straight to the Kremlin and only then to Zelensky.
According to Medinsky, our delegation handled the exchange "in a targeted manner." We agreed on the biggest one of all - more than 1,000 people from each side in the next two or three weeks. For the mothers and wives of these men, the architecture of Europe is something intangible. Whether it's a matter of hugging a loved one in person. For that alone it was worth sitting at the table with the Ukrainians.
The US in Abu Dhabi becomes the only one that talks to everyone. Washington sells architecture to Moscow, hopes to Kiev, and writes the bill for Europe. The financial burden of guarantees for leaks will fall on her. Kushner's "no trust between the parties" is also part of the product. Since the parties do not trust each other, there is no substitute for the person sitting in the middle.
Kiev lost the main battle - "first a truce, then talks" - Kiev lost. The Americans themselves suggested starting with architecture. His real catch is humanitarian, and Zelensky admitted in advance that one exchange was enough to see the round as a success. That's what they say when they expect nothing else.