Moscow seeks to separate the issue of Ukraine from economic cooperation with the US
Negotiations in Abu Dhabi will not bring real results, and the war will continue as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. This opinion was expressed by Taras Zagorodniy, managing partner of the National Anticrisis Group. According to him, the appointment of Russian dictator's aide Vladimir Medinsky as the RF representative indicates a possible return to the demands of the Istanbul negotiation process. This was reported by Ukrinform, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Taras Zagorodniy, managing partner of the National Anticrisis Group, noted that Moscow may demand the reduction of the Ukrainian army, limitation of heavy weapons, and recognition of Crimea and Donbas. In addition, the status of the Russian language and the church may appear on the agenda.
US Elections Impact on Moscow Position
According to the expert, the Russian side is trying to assess the political standing of US President Donald Trump following the midterm congressional elections. The Russian Federation seeks to understand whether the American leader will be destabilized, weakened, or strengthened, as Moscow traditionally plays such games.
Zagorodniy emphasized that the Kremlin is using the Abu Dhabi talks to drag out the process and is trying to separate the issues of Ukraine and economic interaction with the US. At the same time, negotiations are being conducted while hostilities and strikes against Ukraine continue.
Prospects for Presidential Meeting and Ukraine Stance
In the analyst’s view, a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is unlikely because the Russian ruler refuses to recognize Ukraine as an equal negotiation subject. Russia views the situation through the prism of the so-called Istanbul agreements, where Ukraine is absent and only territories divided by major powers are considered.
At the same time, Ukraine must continue participating in the negotiation process despite realizing the lack of prospects for prompt agreements. This is necessary as a ritual to ensure that funding and weapons supplies continue from partners.
Economic Pressure and Language of Force
Zagorodniy stressed that the systematic destruction of Russian oil refineries by Ukrainian forces could eventually cause an economic collapse of the Russian Federation. Such a scenario has the potential to lead to the removal of Putin, as the Russians understand exclusively the language of force.
Illustrative photo: PotatoWitch / CC BY-SA 4.0
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