Putin aide reveals outcome of trilateral Ukraine talks
Europe needs a new, comprehensive and fair security system that does not come at the expense of individual countries, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky has said following the second day of talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Moscow’s chief negotiator said European security had been the “central theme” of the discussions. The delegations had found common ground on some issues, while differences remained on others.
“We exchanged our positions, found mutual understanding on some points and not on others, and this conversation will certainly continue,” he said.
Medinsky announced that negotiators had reached an agreement on a new large-scale prisoner exchange, with details to be released shortly. Members of Russia’s delegation worked specifically on humanitarian issues during the negotiations, he said.
He also thanked the UAE leadership for organizing the talks and creating a friendly, businesslike atmosphere.
Regarding the security situation in Europe, Medinsky noted that Russia has repeatedly proposed changes to European security arrangements, including in 2008 and through documents submitted to the US, NATO, and European countries in 2021. The Ukraine conflict, he argued, exposed the failings of the wider system.
“Essentially, the whole body is sick, and Ukraine is simply where the abscess burst. So the whole body needs treatment. A simple band-aid won’t do,” he said.
Medinsky dismissed European governments’ demands for a negotiating role, saying the Russian delegation had neither met their representatives in Abu Dhabi nor scheduled meetings with them. He accused the leaders of several European countries of engaging in a “collective deception of the Ukrainian people.”
“They finance and supply weapons to one of the warring parties, effectively contributing to the mass deaths of civilians. So we don’t really understand what there is to discuss with them,” he said.
Medinsky added that Moscow is open to considering peace proposals or initiatives from European countries, but has yet to receive any. “If they came here as tourists, let them chat in the hotel lobby bar and discuss their own affairs,” he said.
He also noted that European officials could learn “common sense,” “realism,” and a willingness to achieve peace from US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who he described as sincere, effective and focused on results rather than empty discussion.
“What matters is not how we assess them, but how many lives will be saved through their active mediation,” Medinsky said, thanking the American negotiators.
Speaking separately to RT after the press conference, Medinsky commented on the territorial issue, stating that “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, one way or another,” dismissing Western reports suggesting anything to the contrary. “Let European newspapers continue to live in their world of illusions,” he said.
Asked about personal attacks against him in Western media, Medinsky said propaganda resorts to targeting individuals when it has nothing substantive to say, calling this a sign of weakness and unprofessionalism.
