The United States demands a guarantee of "not violating Europe"; Russia calls for a "modern Yalta conference"

During the tripartite talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, the United States asked Russia to propose a new draft European security agreement, explain what measures Moscow is willing to take to reduce tensions with Europe, and agreed to allow European representatives to participate in subsequent Ukraine-Russia peace talks.

The US news website Axios reported exclusively on the 11th, quoting two people familiar with the matter, that the establishment of a new European and Russian security architecture will be included in the Ukraine-Russia end-of-war agreement and is one of the main topics of the Abu Dhabi talks. Russian negotiators said that Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022 because then US President Biden did not respond to his 2021 letter raising Russian security concerns.

A source pointed out that US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff told the Russian side that the world has changed a lot after 2021, and proposed that Russia draft a new security agreement. In addition to listing Russia's security concerns and requirements, it should also outline the "reciprocal measures" Moscow is willing to take to reduce the situation and reassure Europe that Russia will not attack in the future.

Kushner said at a press conference after the meeting on the 11th that the United States told Russia that "if they want Europe to view its proposal positively, they must come up with a different de-escalation plan."

Russia has for years sought to reach a European security agreement that would limit the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and reduce its military deployment in Eastern Europe. The United States has resisted these demands in the past, but now appears willing to incorporate Russian demands in some form into a broader Ukrainian-Russian end-of-war agreement. However, many European governments are deeply skeptical.

Kushner and Weikov also asked Russia to allow European representatives to participate in future peace talks to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has so far been unwilling to involve Europe in peace talks. After the meeting, Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky criticized some European leaders for "collectively deceiving the Ukrainian people and contributing to the massive death of civilians." He bluntly said, "I don't know what we can discuss with them." However, Russia is willing to reach a comprehensive security agreement with Europe as part of an end-of-war agreement.

Agence France-Presse reported that Medinsky later said in an interview with Russian television that Moscow's goal is to hold a "modern version of the Yalta Conference," referring to the 1945 meeting between Western leaders and the Soviet Union to discuss post-war European arrangements.