Russian negotiator doubles down on territorial demands following Abu Dhabi talks

Russian Chief Negotiator Vladimir Medinsky reinforced Moscow's maximalist territorial stance following trilateral security discussions in Abu Dhabi with Ukrainian and American officials. Medinsky asserted that "every inch of Russian land will be recovered, one way or another," adding that European media could "continue to live in a world of illusions."

The diplomatic talks, which marked the first direct trilateral engagement of their kind since early 2026, focused on ceasefire terms, security guarantees, and territorial disputes. During the summit, Russian diplomats also presented a proposal for bilateral non-aggression pacts with select NATO member states to form part of a new European security framework.

Simultaneously, Russian forces launched over 160 drones and missiles targeting Ukraine's power grid. The overnight strikes severely damaged energy facilities in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, causing widespread blackouts ahead of the winter season.

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