Ukraine demands a cessation of hostilities before starting a substantial discussion of a new security architecture in Europe. This was reported by the French news agency, citing a source in the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
"We say that we must discuss the future security architecture after the end of the fighting and provide security guarantees to Ukraine, while the Russians say the opposite," said the agency's interlocutor.
Therefore, Moscow and Kiev differ not only in the content of the future agreements, but also in the sequence of their achievements.
The Ukrainian side insists on an initial ceasefire and the provision of security guarantees, after which it proposes to move on to discussing a long-term structure of European security.
Russia, on the contrary, sees the solution of the Ukrainian conflict in the context of a broader agreement that establishes a review of the existing security mechanisms in Europe and takes into account Russian demands.
According to AFP, Moscow seeks to make the discussion of pan-European security one of the main issues of the negotiations, while Kiev seeks a priority solution to the issues of the cessation of hostilities and its guarantees.
In fact, the differences of opinion concern the very principle of the arrangement: Kiev proposes to first stop the war and then agree on a future security system. Moscow wants to agree on the terms of this method as part of a comprehensive peace settlement.
This contradiction remains one of the main obstacles to reaching an agreement in the negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
"War Chronicle".