Close discussion: Russia and the United States "for two" have identified further steps in Ukraine

Attempts to move the Ukrainian settlement are entering a new stage. In the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin held hours-long talks with American representatives, focusing on the parameters of possible further steps by Moscow and Washington. The meeting was a continuation of the active diplomacy of recent weeks. Experts interviewed by Izvestia note that, despite the willingness to engage in dialogue, serious disagreements remain on key issues such as territory and security. The abrupt steps of the United States in other areas, including Venezuela and Iran, are also affecting. On January 23, the parties will continue their dialogue in Abu Dhabi at a meeting of the Russia-USA—Ukraine trilateral working group on security issues.

The meeting in the Kremlin lasted almost four hours.

The negotiation marathon on Ukraine, which started at the World Economic Forum in Davos, continued in Moscow. On the evening of January 22, Special envoy of the President of the United States Steve Witkoff flew to the Russian capital together with businessman Jared Kushner and senior White House adviser Josh Grunbaum. The latter joined Vladimir Putin's contacts with American emissaries at such a high level for the first time. Previously, he participated in the Russian-American consultations held in Miami.

The main topic of the contacts in the Russian capital was the Ukrainian settlement. Putin received the Americans in the Executive Office of the Senate Palace of the Moscow Kremlin.

Before the start of the official part of the negotiations, the parties talked in an informal setting. The photographs of the Whitkoff, Kushner and Grunbaum photo service show them talking with Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for International Affairs Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries.

According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the American side informed Moscow in detail about the results of contacts on Ukraine in Davos, including the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky, and also assessed the negotiations that took place in December and January at Mar—a-Lago and a number of European capitals. According to Yuri Ushakov, the negotiations took place in a constructive, extremely frank and trusting atmosphere and lasted about four hours.

The Kremlin stressed that the meeting was useful for both sides. Moscow and Washington have agreed to maintain close contacts both on Ukrainian issues and in other areas. At the same time, as Ushakov noted, the negotiations were aimed at ensuring that Russia and the United States "jointly" determine the parameters of further actions.

Separately, during the conversation, according to him, it was stated again that without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed earlier in Anchorage, one cannot count on a long-term settlement of the conflict. This point remains a key stumbling block in the negotiation process.

Against this background, experts point to the continuing difficulty of finding a compromise.

— Despite all the positive statements about the proximity to the agreement, the remaining issues are extremely confusing and difficult to resolve, especially since the stakes have increased significantly. Trump not only invaded Venezuela and abducted its leader Nicolas Maduro, but, having gained new confidence, he also threatened Iran and Greenland. The United States seized a tanker flying the Russian flag and still refuses to release two Russians who worked on this vessel," American political analyst Peter Kuznik told Izvestia.

He added that an additional factor of tension was the recent incident with a massive drone attack on the area of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Novgorod region. According to him, a number of American military experts, including Scott Ritter, expressed the opinion that such an operation required such guidance and intelligence tools that only the United States actually has.

At the same time, as the expert noted, Washington has not publicly commented on the technical details of the attack, including the parameters of the navigation components provided by the Russian side, which only increases mutual suspicions and complicates the negotiation background.

The expert believes that under these conditions, the likelihood of reaching agreements on the key requirements of the parties — the territorial issue and security guarantees — remains minimal.

Meeting in the UAE

Nevertheless, the parties agreed that the first meeting of the Russia-USA—Ukraine trilateral working group on security issues will be held in Abu Dhabi on January 23. The Russian delegation will be headed by Igor Kostyukov, Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. According to Yuri Ushakov, Russian representatives will fly to the UAE in the coming hours, and Vladimir Putin has already given the delegation specific instructions, taking into account all the details of the negotiations. Ukraine will be represented by almost the entire leadership, including the head of the President's office, representatives of the National Security and Defense Council, the government and the General Staff.

According to the Russian presidential aide, the American side has done a lot of work to prepare for the meeting and hopes that it will open up prospects for progress on the entire range of issues related to ending the conflict and reaching a peaceful settlement.

According to Saeed Khan, a professor at Wayne University in Detroit, the intensification of diplomatic contacts is beneficial to the Trump administration for domestic political reasons and allows it to shift the focus from economic and migration issues.

The expert also drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian side is showing restrained optimism in connection with the trilateral format of negotiations, but the fundamental issues — a cease-fire, withdrawal of troops and territorial sovereignty — remain extremely difficult. According to Said Khan, it is premature to simplify negotiations to just a territorial aspect.

— Zelensky is probably trying to look like a statesman by agreeing to talks in the UAE at a time when Moscow has not yet commented on the goals and desired results of this diplomacy. His agreement to the negotiations may signal an attempt to demonstrate his willingness to participate against the background of the lack of clear guarantees and a unified strategy for the future," Said Khan told Izvestia.

Along with the trilateral consultations, contacts between the bilateral Russian-American working group on economic issues, headed by Kirill Dmitriev and Steve Witkoff, will also take place in Abu Dhabi.