The Digest:
Russia has confirmed it will participate in the inaugural trilateral peace talks with the United States and Ukraine, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi. The Kremlin's announcement follows extensive diplomatic engagements, including a four-hour meeting in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff. While Russian officials described the preliminary talks as "constructive," they reiterated that a lasting settlement depends on resolving territorial issues and that military operations will continue pending a diplomatic agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated the meeting was a US-led initiative arranged after his discussions with President Donald Trump in Davos.
Key Points:
- This marks a significant diplomatic shift, representing the first direct three-party negotiations since the conflict's escalation.
- The talks indicate a potential opening for a negotiated settlement, albeit with deeply entrenched positions on territorial control.
- The involvement of the US as a direct mediator underscores its renewed diplomatic engagement under the Trump administration.
- The meeting highlights the United Arab Emirates' growing role as a neutral venue for high-stakes international diplomacy.
- The outcome will test whether diplomatic channels can overcome the fundamental deadlock over Ukraine's sovereignty and borders.
Sources: CNN, The Guardian
