U.S. to Mediate Russia-Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announces working-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
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U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff has announced that the United States will mediate working-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from November 10 to 11. The talks aim to find common ground to end the nearly five-year-long Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has remained stalled due to the refusal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease attacks on civilian areas and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s resistance to land concessions.
Historical Context of the Conflict
The full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, annexing its Crimean peninsula during the Obama administration. The Obama administration’s lack of significant action led to a regional war in the Donbass region, which Putin also annexed in September 2022. Witkoff emphasized that the talks are part of President Trump’s mission to end the war, focusing on post-war security, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace.
Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Efforts
Witkoff also mentioned that the Trump administration will engage with European leaders on security guarantees for Ukraine, a key demand from Zelensky. Ukraine once accepted such guarantees in 1994 when it agreed to hand over its nuclear arsenal. The new negotiations will include a working group of diplomats rather than the highest levels of Ukrainian or Russian governments. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia’s participation but provided no additional details.
Previous Talks and Zelensky’s Comments
The last direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky was in 2019 under the Normandy format, which included Germany and France. Zelensky expressed frustration over the lack of concrete results, stating that negotiations with Putin are challenging due to his detailed approach. Zelensky indicated he would only return to such talks if organized by
Source: Breitbart
