Russia refuses to participate in European negotiations to end the war... “US-Russia-Ukra trilateral talks”

(Rome = Yonhap News) Correspondent Min Gyeong-rak = Russia dismissed the French government's announcement that Europe would also participate in negotiations to end the war with Ukraine.

According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency on the 9th (local time), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said regarding the war-end negotiations to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 10th to 11th, "It is a three-party meeting with Russia and Ukraine mediated by the United States."

This denied the French government's announcement that the European side would also participate in these war-ending negotiations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barro told RTL the previous day, "Europe will send a delegation (to Abu Dhabi) and France will also participate in the negotiations in Abu Dhabi."

Spokesperson Peskov said, “Both the United States and Ukraine have separate communication channels with the European side,” implying that there is no reason for Europe to participate in the end-of-war negotiations.

The European side has expressed its willingness to participate in the Russia-Ukraine end-of-war negotiations, but Russia is refusing this, insisting on 'tripartite negotiations' including the United States as a mediator.

Although the end-of-war negotiations were one day away, both sides continued their battle targeting energy facilities.

According to Russian regional authorities, the Kirish oil refinery in the Leningrad region was attacked overnight by a Ukrainian drone, killing one person and causing a fire. This refinery can process 20 million tons (ton) of crude oil per year, or about 400,000 barrels per day.

In Ukraine, residents in 12 regions are without power due to Russian attacks on infrastructure such as power plants. Ukraine's Ministry of Energy announced that 128 energy, oil and gas facilities in the country were attacked by Russia last week.