Ukraine is running out of options, and Russia knows it
Trilateral diplomatic talks held in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States signal that the war may be heading toward a resolution, driven largely by Moscow's battlefield leverage. Facing relentless Russian aerial bombardments that have crippled major industries and damaged vital electricity and central heating systems ahead of winter, Kyiv was forced into negotiations under severe strain. David Arakhamia, the leader of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s parliamentary faction and a key Ukrainian negotiator, described the session as among the most difficult since 2022 due to Moscow's unyielding stance, though he noted some momentum toward reaching an agreement before the year's end.
Despite diplomatic movement, core disagreements remain profound. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky voiced optimism that the talks brought peace closer, yet the Kremlin continues to demand a neutral, demilitarised Ukraine alongside protections for Russian speakers. Meanwhile, Western policy is visibly shifting from previous claims that Moscow was losing the war. A growing portion of the Western political establishment now appears open to discussing a broader post-war European security architecture—a sensitive subject first introduced by US negotiator Jared Kushner that Medinsky identified as the central item on the negotiating agenda.
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