Ukrainian Officials Do Not Have High Expectations for Talks in Abu Dhabi

In November in Abu Dhabi, consultations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia are planned. The Ukrainian side assesses their chances cautiously, but hopes to raise the issue of a mutual pause in strikes against energy infrastructure.

Representatives from the government and business discussed this during the Kyiv Security Forum event "Support Ukraine, Protect Europe" in Brussels.

What do Ukrainians expect from the negotiations?

Ukraine’s representative to the EU, Taras Kachka, called the planned trilateral meeting a positive signal. According to him, although previous attempts were not very successful, the parties nonetheless managed to achieve local results regarding prisoner exchanges or the situation in Olekshky.

Maxim Timchenko, CEO of the energy holding DTEK, expressed hope that Donald Trump’s call for an energy truce will be received positively. He believes that otherwise Ukraine will gain a substantial argument in response.

And if not—that would give us a moral right to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. Perhaps this is the only way they will understand that an energy truce is important not only for us, but also for Russia. I hope so.

— said Maxim Timchenko.

At the same time, former finance minister Natalia Yaresko stressed that at this stage there is no reason to believe Vladimir Putin genuinely wants to negotiate. She is convinced that progress is possible only with intensified pressure on the aggressor, stronger sanctions, strict export controls, and strengthening Ukraine’s own defense.

Iryna Klimpush-Cinzadze, head of the Verkhovna Rada committee on Ukraine’s integration with the EU, also has not high expectations for discussions in the UAE, but noted that European partners must certainly be present at the negotiation table.

Meanwhile, Alona Hetmanchuk, head of Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to NATO, emphasized that the main vulnerability at present remains the air defense, the strengthening of which directly affects the state's diplomatic position's resilience.

Former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker also highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire and assured continued strong support for Ukraine among the American public and Congress.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the meeting of the teams should pave the way for dialogue at the leaders’ level. He also emphasized that Moscow has already refused to stop strikes on energy facilities.