Russia and Ukraine in closed-door negotiations show their willingness to compromise on the territorial issue, Reuters reports, citing a US official who held a closed-door press briefing before the start of negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
According to him, despite the publicly stated positions of the parties, Moscow and Kiev privately demonstrate a certain flexibility on the territorial issue.
At the same time, a territorial agreement can probably be reached only in the final stage of the negotiations, after agreement on other issues, including the future security architecture in Europe, the source said.
Washington remains cautiously optimistic about the prospects for a peaceful settlement.