Moscow insisted that Kyiv must agree to its terms to bring an end to the ongoing four-year conflict and threatened to continue its invasion if the conditions are not met. Negotiations between the two parties commenced in Abu Dhabi, facilitated by the United States.
The talks, mediated by the US, mark the latest attempt at diplomatic discussions, which have thus far failed to reach a resolution to stop the war initiated by Russia’s invasion in February 2022. This conflict has escalated into the deadliest in Europe since World War II, resulting in significant casualties, mass displacement of Ukrainian civilians, and severe destruction in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s uncompromising stance, coupled with a substantial Russian aerial assault prior to the negotiations targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and causing power and heating outages in freezing temperatures, threatened to overshadow any potential progress in Abu Dhabi.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated their position to reporters at the start of the talks, emphasizing that the military operation will persist until Kyiv meets the required conditions. Notably, Russian airstrikes in the Zaporizhzhia region on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including two teenagers, and left at least 12 others injured, as reported by regional governor Ivan Fedorov on Telegram.
