Russia Rejects Territorial Compromise as Abu Dhabi Peace Talks End With Prisoner Swap Deal
Two days of US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi ended on November 11 with an agreement in principle for a major prisoner exchange, but no breakthrough on ending the war.
Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky declared that “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, one way or another,” reinforcing Moscow’s refusal to compromise over territorial demands, particularly in the Donbas region.
The two sides also remain divided over postwar security arrangements and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO, leaving the central issues of the conflict unresolved.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before travelling to Dublin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Although the prisoner exchange represents a significant humanitarian development, the territorial dispute and deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv continue to stand in the way of a comprehensive peace agreement.