Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are meeting in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, 4 February, for another round of talks aimed at ending the war. The talks follow a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that cut power and heating during sub-zero temperatures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes cast doubt on Russia’s commitment to diplomacy. The main deadlock remains over territory in eastern Ukraine, with Moscow demanding Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of the Donbas, while Kyiv insists any deal should freeze the front line without unilateral withdrawals.
Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov. Russia will be represented by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, who has been sanctioned by Western countries over his role in the invasion.
“We await the reaction of America to the Russian strikes. It was the US proposal—to halt strikes on energy during diplomacy and severe winter weather”, Zelenskyy said in a Tuesday evening address.
"The president of the United States made the request personally. Russia responded with a record number of ballistic missiles”.
Source: commonspace.eu with The Moscow Times
