Russian negotiator demands every inch of claimed Russian territory
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Atlantic Council Africa Center
Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky says Moscow wants to recover every portion of territory it considers Russian in Ukraine talks. Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Abu Dhabi ended without major progress on territorial claims, according to the Atlantic Council Africa Center.
The head of the Russian delegation to the Ukraine talks, Vladimir Medinsky, said that “every inch” of territory claimed by Moscow would be returned to Russia, one way or another, during the Abu Dhabi negotiations. Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, the first in nearly a year, ended on Wednesday without progress on the main territorial issues and security guarantees, according to the Atlantic Council Africa Center.
The two countries did, however, provisionally agree on a major prisoner exchange. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said the resumption of dialogue created favourable momentum and that a deal could be possible by the end of the year. Russian authorities also said the discussions had brought the prospect of an agreement closer, while positions remain opposed on territory.
Ukraine proposes using the current front lines as the basis for a territorial settlement. Russia is also demanding the Ukrainian withdrawal from the remaining 10% of Donbas still controlled by Kyiv, an area including a belt of fortified cities considered essential to Ukrainian defence, the Atlantic Council Africa Center reports.
The Abu Dhabi talks follow the appointment of Vladimir Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation, announced on 10 November for the Ukraine negotiations. They follow US-mediated discussions between Moscow and Kyiv, announced the same day in Abu Dhabi.
