European involvement could derail diplomatic efforts, Sergey Ryabkov has told RT<\/p>\n
The two-day trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi have brought progress toward settling the Ukraine conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has told RT in an exclusive interview.However, involving European governments in the process could undermine diplomatic efforts, he warned.
\nRyabkov was among the Russian delegates at the negotiations, which concluded on Wednesday with an agreement in principle on a major prisoner exchange. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner subsequently traveled to Moscow, where they met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday for talks lasting around two and a half hours.
\nRyabkov noted that the latest round in Abu Dhabi differed from previous meetings, with American representatives seeking to make discussions more concrete. Much of the attention focused on a future European security architecture that could support a lasting settlement and prevent \u201cuncontrolled escalation,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cWe have made progress. That is an indisputable fact,\u201d Ryabkov said, while cautioning that previous diplomatic advances had been followed by setbacks and attempts to derail the process.
\n\u201cBringing the Europeans into the negotiating process could mean a reversal and the disruption of efforts,\u201d the diplomat warned.
\nHe pointed to a fundamental divide between European governments and both Moscow and Washington, adding that they rejected Russia\u2019s approach and appeared equally opposed to proposals advanced by the US administration.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Prisoner swap, security, and the sidelines: What came out of the Abu Dhabi talks?<\/p>\n
Ryabkov said that European governments had shown \u201cnot the slightest desire to exercise common sense\u201d while continuing to recklessly support Kiev. He described the gap between their declared support for a settlement and their actual policies as one rooted in \u201chypocrisy and lies.\u201d
\nThose who had previously sought to derail diplomatic efforts should recognize that the situation is changing \u201cnot in Kiev\u2019s favor\u201d and draw lessons from past setbacks, the Russian diplomat said.
\nWestern European representatives were not part of the trilateral negotiations, although they held separate consultations with the American and Ukrainian teams. On Wednesday, Vladimir Zelensky demanded that European countries agree on a representative to join the peace process by the end of November.<\/p>\n
Moscow has repeatedly questioned Europe\u2019s credibility, citing its continued military and financial support for Kiev and calls for Russia\u2019s strategic defeat. It has also rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire coming from Brussels, arguing that such a pause would allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm.
\nPutin also addressed the issue on Thursday, telling Witkoff and Kushner that Russia wanted Washington to work with European governments to establish whether they sought peace or war. He also reiterated Moscow\u2019s opposition to foreign troops in Ukraine, warning that their presence would threaten Russian national security and make them legitimate military targets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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