Rubio points to progress on post-war security framework ahead of Abu Dhabi talks
US diplomats meet European counterparts and Russian officials this week as Moldova cuts its last energy ties to Russia.
By Hassan Ellis ·
The global push to end the war in Ukraine has entered a new phase, with diplomats focusing on the structural protections for the region after a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that negotiators have made some progress on defining the security infrastructure for Ukraine and Europe. He suggested that discussions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi could lead to further advances. Rubio emphasized that security guarantees have been a recurring theme in US discussions about the conflict. He noted that the President of the United States has alluded to these developments in the architecture of post-conflict security.
The negotiations in Abu Dhabi will be mediated by the United States. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, will represent the US delegation. Trump spoke on CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Sunday, expressing his belief that the war would end soon. He suggested that Ukraine might emerge from a settlement with a different shape. When asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was delaying the process, Trump said he did not think so.
European nations are preparing to participate in the Abu Dhabi discussions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on RTL radio that France would be represented. He stated that details about the specific French delegation had not been finalized. Meanwhile, in Paris, Rubio is set to meet with G7 foreign ministers before traveling to the Gulf.
Military operations continue on the ground despite the diplomatic movements. A Russian drone struck a former school and a shelter in the village of Komyshuvakha in southern Ukraine on Sunday. Authorities reported that emergency workers were on rescue missions at the time of the impact. No injuries were reported in Sunday’s strike, though rescue equipment was damaged. About 50 people remain missing following a previous attack on the site last Monday that killed at least 55 people.
Energy infrastructure remains a point of vulnerability. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine lost its external electricity supply on Sunday. The plant relied on backup generators for reactor cooling before power was restored hours later. This incident marks the 27th time the facility has lost off-site power since the conflict began. The cause and location of the disconnection on the Ferosplavna power line remain unknown.
Russia announced that overnight strikes hit three cargo vessels carrying military goods and two electricity substations. The Russian defence ministry said the vessels were heading to or operating near the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk. In a separate move to reduce reliance on Russian energy, Moldova launched a new power line connecting the country to Romania and the European grid. President Maia Sandu stated that Moldova now buys zero Russian gas, ending decades of energy dependence on Moscow.
