In early February, representatives of Ukraine and Russia will meet again in Abu Dhabi for a new round of peace talks, one of the key issues of which will be the future fate of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Among the options being discussed is the possibility of joint use of the nuclear power plant by Kyiv and Moscow, writes Politico.
US officials note that during the previous consultations on January 23 and 24, significant attention was paid to economic issues, as well as control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under occupation by Russian troops. No specific agreements have been reached, but the Russian side insists on the idea of sharing the electricity generated by the plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
“Both sides are beginning to imagine what they can gain from peace, including a plan for Ukraine’s economic recovery and some opportunities for Russia to do business with the United States,” Politico writes.
On the eve of the negotiations, the US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said that only one key issue remained unresolved. Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clarified that the issue was territorial. Russia, in particular, demands the establishment of control over the entire territory of the Donetsk region, including areas currently under Ukrainian control. Kyiv rejects these demands, emphasizing the strategic importance of the region.
At the same time, the Russian leadership continues to publicly demonstrate its commitment to maximalist goals in the war against Ukraine, while rhetorically trying to shift responsibility for the lack of progress in the negotiations onto the Ukrainian side.
