Trilateral Ukraine Peace Talks End With Russia Demands

Diplomats from Ukraine, Russia and the US met on neutral territory over the weekend for the first trilateral talks since Moscow invaded its European neighbour four years ago.

It could have been a substantial step towards peace, but Russian president Vladimir Putin is still insisting the war can only end if he gets even more land from Ukraine.

He wants the whole of Ukraine’s Donbas region to be handed over to the Kremlin.

Russia occupies 90% of the territory right now, and a fifth of Ukraine’s total sovereign land.

After the talks in Abu Dhabi concluded on Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “It’s no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side.”

According to Moscow, the “Anchorage formula” is the name of the agreement reached between Trump and Putin last August when they met in Alaska.

Reuters reported that Ukraine was meant to hand Russian control of the Donbas as part of that deal, and Russia would freeze its other frontlines in Ukraine in exchange.

But Ukraine has insisted that it will not give Russia any more land.

Unsurprisingly, there was no significant breakthrough after the trilateral talks.

Even so, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained positive on social media, writing: “A lot was discussed and it is important that the conversations were constructive.

“The central focus on the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war.”

“Provided there is readiness to move forward – and Ukraine is ready – further meetings will take place, potentially as early as next week,” he added.

Peskov also said that talks with Ukraine were “constructive”, and more talks are expected next weekend.

The peace discussions follow a large push from the White House to end the Ukraine war as soon as possible, even if it means rewarding Russia for its aggression.

Moscow has continued to hold onto its maximalist goals for the war but has tried to appease Donald Trump by attending negotiations.

The US president has therefore taken to blaming Zelenskyy for the hold-up in peace negotiations.