Zelenskyy challenges Russian battlefield claims as Abu Dhabi peace talks begin
Ukraine’s president welcomed a shift in US mediation while disputes over European security, military supplies and funding underscored the challenges facing peace efforts.
By Larissa Bell ·
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy disputed Russia’s account of its battlefield gains as US-led talks involving Ukraine and Russia began in Abu Dhabi. Writing on social media, he said Moscow had claimed during the discussions to control half of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy accused Vladimir Putin of living in a “different reality” and said American representatives had endorsed Ukraine’s assessment of the military situation.
Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen, Zelenskyy also expressed satisfaction with changes in the approach of US mediators. Asked about the role of American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, he welcomed what he had heard while leaving open what the negotiations might achieve. He characterised the opening day as constructive and substantive. The meeting marked the first talks involving all three countries since February.
The discussions included the possibility of a new European security framework, a subject Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had raised on Tuesday. Zelenskyy urged caution, saying there was uncertainty about what was being sought and that the documents covering American discussions with Russia had not been seen. US officials said their objective was to bring the war to a definitive end, with a lasting security arrangement between Russia and Europe forming part of the Trump administration’s proposal.
European officials, however, fear Moscow could maintain its demands for Nato to reduce its military presence across eastern Europe. They are concerned that such a withdrawal would expose allied countries to Russian influence. The issue adds another point of contention to negotiations seeking to end the conflict.
Alongside the diplomatic effort, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he had asked US secretary of state Marco Rubio to speed up deliveries of interceptors as Russian attacks on energy facilities intensify. Speaking to Reuters after their meeting, Sybiha said Washington should keep pressure on Moscow while negotiations proceed. He added that Ukraine was willing to consider measures to reduce hostilities, including ceasefires relating to the Black Sea and energy infrastructure.
European funding for Ukraine also prompted a dispute. German chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled that he would withhold support for the EU’s seven-year budget without an agreement on assistance for Kyiv. His stance angered some central European leaders whose countries receive more EU funding than they contribute but oppose joining the forthcoming Ukraine funding round. Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, described the move as “typical blackmail” while appearing with Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš in Bratislava.
Meanwhile, Latvia and Lithuania issued shelter warnings across several regions early on Wednesday over unidentified drones approaching through Russian or Belarusian airspace. Lithuania’s alert covered Kaunas, home to about 300,000 people. Some Ukrainian drones targeting Russian Baltic Sea oil ports have strayed into neighbouring countries. Moscow accuses Kyiv of sheltering attacks behind Nato airspace, while Ukraine says Russian signal jamming has diverted some drones. The Nato countries hold Russia responsible because it started the war.
