Russian and Ukrainian officials met on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for a new round of trilateral talks brokered by the United States — the first such meeting since February aimed at reaching a political settlement to the nearly five-year conflict.
The resumption of face-to-face consultations after more than nine months of stalemate marks a crucial step toward managing battlefield risks and preventing an uncontrolled escalation, experts said, but cautioned that the deep rift between the two warring parties makes a significant breakthrough unlikely in the short term.
The two-day talks are set to focus on security guarantees, while humanitarian measures, prisoner exchange, unblocking the Black Sea shipping route and preparations for a possible leaders' summit are also on the agenda, according to media reports.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the first day of talks, which lasted for nearly four hours, as "very productive", and said the discussions should be expanded to include the European side at the table.
Although the talks are essentially a trilateral mechanism, France, Germany and the European Commission have sent officials to Abu Dhabi. "We think the trilateral (format) should eventually include our European partners at the table as well, because they are a part of solving this problem for the long term," Rubio said when attending a different event in Paris, France.
Despite US optimism, the warring sides remain far apart on terms for a possible settlement. On Monday, the United Nations Security Council held a meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis, where Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, said that Moscow "will not accept a freeze in the conflict that would preserve existing threats to our security and create conditions for a new escalation".
"Our position is firm and unchanged," Nebenzya said, emphasizing that any settlement reached should be comprehensive, sustainable and long-term, and should address the root causes of the conflict.
"The stated objectives of the special military operation and the conditions for achieving lasting peace remain unchanged. We have all the necessary resources, public support and political will to achieve them," he added.
At the same meeting, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, called on the parties concerned to de-escalate the situation by building on the current momentum of engagement. Recent contacts among key stakeholders have sent positive signals, he said, voicing hope that the parties would sustain the momentum toward an early political settlement.
"China stands ready to work with the international community and continue making unremitting efforts for an early ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities, and lasting peace and stability in the region," Sun added.
Experts said that although the path to lasting peace remains fraught with significant obstacles, the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi mark a key step toward dialogue.
Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that Nebenzya's remarks at the UN draw a clear red line in negotiations.
Russia has consistently sought a comprehensive, sustainable and long-term political solution aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict and safeguarding its core strategic security interests, he said, noting that Russia's stance has not softened.
Zhang pointed out that the three sides remain deeply divided on core issues, including territorial attribution and postwar security guarantees for Ukraine.
"This round of talks will likely produce only limited consensus on humanitarian and technical issues, such as prisoner exchange and protection of civilian infrastructure. The main objective is to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk of escalation," he added.
Regarding the presence of other European delegations in Abu Dhabi, Zhang said that it shows the European Union is seeking an active role in the Russia-Ukraine peace process to safeguard core European interests such as security, regional order and postwar reconstruction.
Agencies contributed to this story.
