ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict will resume this week with trilateral negotiations scheduled in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Kremlin officials. The talks, mediated by the United States, follow a brief postponement attributed to scheduling conflicts despite ongoing frontline hostilities and devastating long-range attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized the discussions as “very complex,” noting that while progress has been achieved on certain issues, significant divisions remain on others. The negotiations occur as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches, with key sticking points including Moscow’s demand to retain occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Ukraine’s eastern industrial regions.
The diplomatic push continues against a backdrop of intensified violence. Recent Russian drone and missile bombardments have resulted in substantial civilian casualties, including twelve miners killed in a single attack on Sunday. These assaults have severely damaged Ukraine’s power infrastructure, leaving populations without heating, electricity, or running water during harsh winter conditions.
In a parallel technological development, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced measures to prevent Russian forces from exploiting SpaceX’s Starlink satellite services for drone navigation. Ukraine has implemented a mandatory registration system for Starlink terminals, disabling unapproved devices within its territory. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk acknowledged the effectiveness of these countermeasures, offering further cooperation if needed.
The talks follow discreet weekend meetings between Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and American officials in Miami, though details remain undisclosed. Despite sustained diplomatic engagement from the Trump administration, fundamental disagreements continue to impede breakthrough possibilities as the conflict approaches its fourth year.