US President's Special Representative Steve Withoff will join negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi on February 3-4. Previously, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out the presence of American representatives, but now Washington's approach is changing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of contacts with the US side, indicating that Kyiv places primary focus on US support. Meanwhile, Kyiv does not expect significant results from talks with the Russian delegation, suspecting Moscow of stalling the process rather than genuinely seeking to end the war.
The need for joint US-Ukraine pressure on Russia is seen as a key condition for achieving peace. US diplomats, coordinating their positions with Kyiv, seek to influence the Kremlin's decisions towards ending the war. Core issues remain the control of Donbas territories, the presence of peacekeepers, and ongoing sanctions.
It is also noted that economic pressure, particularly India's restriction on purchasing Russian oil, may accelerate the end of the war. Sanctions and political pressure remain the main tools for stopping the conflict.