‘Russia must be ready to end war’: Zelensky on trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Key Highlights

• Earlier in the day, the Kremlin outlined what it called a “very important condition” that Kyiv give up the Donbas. Zelensky told reporters the talks would focus on the eastern Donbas region, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk areas that are largely – but not entirely – occupied by Russia. President Putin’s demand that Ukraine surrender the remaining 20 percent of the Donetsk region in the Donbas – about 5,000sq km (1,900sq miles) still under Kyiv’s control – has emerged as a major obstacle to any breakthrough agreement. Zelenskyy has rejected giving up territory that Russia has failed to seize during four years of grinding, attritional fighting. Surveys indicate there is little public support in Ukraine for making territorial concessions. Quick ReadsView AllSuicide bomber kills 7, injures 25 at wedding ceremony in northwest PakistanOver 5,000 killed in Iran protests, activists say many more would have died during internet blackoutKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia’s insistence on Ukraine yielding all of Donbas was “a very important condition”. Negotiations to continue The UAE’s foreign ministry said the negotiations are “scheduled to continue over two days, as part of ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis”. Both Moscow and Kyiv said military intelligence officials would attend the talks.
• US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to mediate. Zelensky said he hoped the negotiations would be a “step towards ending the war”.
• The talks follow his remarks to European leaders on Thursday, when he criticised them and called for material action against Russian aggression in a speech in Davos, suggesting he does not see an imminent resolution as likely. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADFollow Firstpost on Google.
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• Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. TagsRussia-Ukraine war Ukraine United States of America Vladimir Putin Volodymyr ZelenskyyHomeWorld‘Russia must be ready to end war’: Zelensky as trilateral peace talks open in Abu DhabiEnd of Article Read MoreFind us on YouTubeSubscribeHomeWorld‘Russia must be ready to end war’: Zelensky as trilateral peace talks open in Abu DhabiEnd of ArticleQuick ReadsSuicide bomber kills 7, injures 25 at wedding ceremony in northwest PakistanA suicide bomber killed seven and injured 25 at a wedding in northwest Pakistan's Dera Is.