A new round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will take place in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, but analysts warn that deep divisions between Kyiv and Moscow make a breakthrough unlikely.
Moscow has described the negotiations as “complex and multi-directional”, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv is ready for a “substantive discussion” aimed at achieving a “real and dignified end to the war”.
Political analyst Orkan Nabiyev told AnewZ that the core challenge lies in the fundamentally opposing objectives of the two sides.
“The positions of the two countries, Ukraine and Russia, are diametrically opposed to each other,” Nabiyev said.
He said Russia’s ambitions extend far beyond eastern Ukraine, with Moscow seeking to maintain long-term strategic leverage rather than settle for limited territorial gains.
“The main goal of Russia is to take Donetsk, to hold the Donetsk region - and ultimately all of Ukraine - because Putin’s aim is to control all of Ukraine, not just a small region,” he said.
According to the analyst, this strategic gap makes meaningful compromise difficult and turns the negotiation process into a tactical exercise rather than a genuine peace effort.
He argued that Russia is using talks primarily to buy time and manage external pressure, particularly the risk of additional sanctions from Washington.
Nabiyev also noted that while the US administration has increased pressure on Ukraine to engage in diplomacy, Moscow has shown little willingness to make reciprocal concessions.
Previous ceasefire efforts, including a brief pause in attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure, collapsed within days, highlighting the fragility of such arrangements.
Commenting on remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that “good news” could emerge from the talks, Nabiyev pointed to expectations of possible Ukrainian concessions.
“Good news may be Ukraine’s compromise on creating a demilitarised zone,” he said, adding that security-related compromises remain highly sensitive.
He also warned that domestic political constraints inside Russia further limit the Kremlin’s room for manoeuvre, making any major compromise difficult. As a result, Nabiyev said expectations for the Abu Dhabi talks should remain low.
The third Turkish-owned vessel has departed the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said on Monday....
A gunfight with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district left at least one attacker dead and two others in...
Iran said on Monday it wanted a lasting end to the war with the U.S. and Israel, and pushed back against p...
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a ...
Trade between Georgia and Azerbaijan is on the rise, but business leaders say the current figures fall short of what the two neighbours could achie...
Ukraine has regained control of 480 sq. km (185 sq. miles) of territory in the southeastern and eastern parts of the front since late January, its Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said, adding that Russia was continuing its spring offensive.
Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has warned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack civilian infrastructure risks dragging the region into an “endless war,” calling for immediate action by the world body.
Russia and Tajikistan are discussing the construction of large-scale solar power plants with a total capacity of up to 500 megawatts. The initiative builds on a memorandum signed in 2025, with both sides now working on implementation details and potential locations for the facilities.
Kyrgyzstan is considering a referendum on building a nuclear power plant as it seeks long-term solutions to rising energy demand, though officials stress discussions remain at an early stage.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that Iran could be taken out in one night, "and that night might be tomorrow night," warning Tehran it had to make a deal by Tuesday night or face wider bombing raids.
The crew of Artemis II mission are entering a pivotal phase of their journey, as they prepare to swing around the Moon and head back towards Earth. Now on the fifth day of their 10-day mission, the four astronauts are already witnessing views no human has ever seen.
A new proposal to end hostilities between the United States and Iran could come into effect as soon as Monday, potentially reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran's "whole civilisation" on Tuesday in a post on social media. Meanwhile, the UN failed to reach an agreemement on a resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after China and Russia used their vetoes.
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday as fears deepened over potential supply shortages caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, unsettling global energy markets and the row over the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns for consumers and businesses alike.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance began a visit to Budapest on Tuesday by praising Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces a closely contested parliamentary election on Sunday.
A gunfight with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district left at least one attacker dead and two others injured, according to Turkish authorities, prompting a major police response on Tuesday (7 April).
A train driver has died and several passengers have been injured after a high-speed train collided with an army lorry carrying military equipment at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday morning (7 April), the local prefecture and railway operators said in separate statements.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the accelerated development of a “new energy system” to safeguard national energy security, as the ongoing Iran conflict continues to trigger severe global energy shocks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment