Russian negotiator doubles down on territorial demands following Abu Dhabi peace talks

Following trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi, Moscow reiterated its unyielding stance on territorial control. Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated that "every inch of Russian land will be recovered, one way or another," explicitly rejecting compromises on regions Moscow claims to have annexed. Medinsky also dismissed European press reports about potential concessions, asserting that Western media continues to "live in a world of illusions."

The diplomatic meeting, which marked the first direct trilateral dialogue since February 2026, focused on ceasefire parameters and security architecture. Despite Moscow's proposal of bilateral non-aggression treaties with selected NATO members, the sharp divide over territorial integrity remains an obstacle. Meanwhile, Russian forces maintained military pressure on Ukraine's civil grid, launching nocturnal strikes that disrupted power for hundreds of thousands of residents across the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions ahead of winter.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.