Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Abu Dhabi: Details of Trump's peace plan
A historic round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the participation of a high-level US delegation, has begun in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. This marks the first public negotiations bringing the three parties face-to-face since the outbreak of war. This crucial step aims to discuss the peace plan being promoted by US President Donald Trump, with the goal of ending the nearly four-year-long conflict that has devastated both sides.
These intensive talks are scheduled to continue for two days, as mediators seek to break the political deadlock and find common ground for de-escalation, amid widespread international anticipation of the results of this diplomatic movement that could change the course of events in Eastern Europe.
The Donbas obstacle and Russian demands
Ahead of the official talks, Moscow reiterated its firm stance, emphasizing that it would not relinquish its primary demand: the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern Donbas region. This issue remains the most significant obstacle in the negotiations, as Russia considers control of this territory a non-negotiable strategic objective.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the issue of the territories and regions claimed by Russia would be the main and most complex item on the agenda of the talks, noting the difficulty of relinquishing national sovereignty, which poses serious challenges for negotiators in reaching a compromise.
The context of the war and its global effects
These negotiations gain their importance from the temporal and geopolitical context of the conflict. Since the outbreak of military operations in February 2022, international relations have witnessed unprecedented tension, and the war has cast a heavy shadow over the global economy, causing energy and food crises whose effects have reached various continents. Previous rounds of talks (such as those held in Belarus and Turkey at the beginning of the crisis) failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire, making the stakes for the Abu Dhabi round higher than ever.
The American role and Emirati mediation
The direct US presence in these negotiations, under the auspices of the Trump administration, represents a qualitative shift in the management of the issue, as Washington seeks to exert its diplomatic weight to accelerate a political solution. The UAE's hosting of this event underscores its growing role as a trusted international mediator and its ability to bring conflicting parties to the table, thanks to its balanced relationships with all influential actors on the international stage.
