Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war, which began on November 10 in Abu Dhabi, have hit a major obstacle—the territorial issue concerning the Donbas. According to The Telegraph, the US administration's efforts to broker a compromise have effectively reached an impasse: the territorial settlement option proposed by Washington was rejected by Kyiv, and Moscow's position proved unacceptable to Ukraine.
The Essence of the US Proposal
Representatives of US President Donald Trump put forward a territorial compromise option under which Russia would gain full control over the frontline in the Donbas, while Ukraine, in turn, would not be forced to give up cities it still holds under its control. Thus, Washington attempted to freeze the status quo on the front lines without forcing Kyiv to cede the settlements under its control. However, this initiative failed to gain support from either conflict party in its proposed form.
Moscow's Position and the Negotiation Impasse
The American peace initiative, according to the publication, has run into Moscow's demands. Russia insists that Ukraine cede about two thousand square miles of territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Russian troops have failed to capture on the battlefield. In other words, the RF's position implies that Kyiv surrender the areas it controls, which goes beyond the compromise proposed by Washington and makes it unattainable without substantial concessions from Ukraine.
Divergence on Territorial Concessions
Before the Abu Dhabi talks, Donald Trump stated that after the war ends, Ukraine will have a "different shape." US administration officials also hinted that during private contacts, Kyiv had allegedly shown a certain willingness to make territorial concessions. A Ukrainian source close to the negotiating process refuted such claims: according to him, the Ukrainian delegation has never discussed concessions regarding territories under Russian occupation. "Ukraine will never recognize this—neither de facto nor de jure. And this has always been our position at the negotiating table," the Telegraph source stated.
Course of Negotiations in Abu Dhabi
On November 10, trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war kicked off in Abu Dhabi. Before the main session began, the Ukrainian delegation held consultations with US representatives and European partners, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission. The first round dragged on for more than four hours, after which the parties agreed to continue meetings the next day. Among the issues Ukraine, the US, and Russia are scheduled to discuss on November 11, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a ceasefire, energy security, and the situation in the Black Sea.
