UPDATED: UAE President intends to arrange negotiations between Zelensky and putin in Dubai
He has already secured support from the Pope of Rome, who "enthusiastically embraced the idea"
UPDATED at 11:18 a.m.:
Comment was added by the U.S. State Department:
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated in a briefing that any decision concerning potential negotiations with a terrorist country must be made by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
"We have made it clear that Ukraine controls the process when it comes to its future, and this applies to any potential negotiations," Miller noted.
He reminded that Zelensky had been open to negotiations with russian dictator vladimir putin since the start of the full-scale invasion, during which "russia will respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
Miller emphasised that the obstacle to negotiations remains putin's uncompromising stance on his imperialist goals and his belief that "Ukraine is not a real country. And he has no intention of withdrawing his troops from Ukrainian territory."
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan intends to arrange a meeting between russian dictator vladimir putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN Climate Conference, according to the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour, as referenced by moscowtimes.eu.
The event will take place from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai. The specific day of a potential meeting between putin and Zelensky has not been announced, but the goal is to initiate a dialogue that could eventually end the war.
The UAE President has already secured the support of the Pope of Rome, who enthusiastically embraced the idea.
Furthermore, Al Nahyan informed U.S. President Joe Biden about his initiative, and Biden promised to fully support its implementation. Neither putin nor Zelensky have confirmed their participation in the conference.
According to Western diplomats interviewed by the publication, many European countries are also ready to support this plan, as they believe the UAE could "use its geopolitical position to achieve a ceasefire on Ukrainian territory."
Al Nahyan met with putin at the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. Then, the russian dictator thanked him for his efforts to address humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchange. In turn, the UAE leader expressed readiness to assist in resolving the "conflict in Ukraine."
Before this, Al Nahyan met with putin in October 2022, also in St. Petersburg. Then, the Sheikh said that the UAE was ready to mediate between Kyiv and moscow.
On 5-6 August, representatives from nearly 40 states, including the US, China, and India, gathered in Saudi Arabia to discuss a peaceful settlement of russia's war against Ukraine. russia was not invited to the meeting.
Background. More about this – in the material How the Saudis Helped Ukraine: Three Conclusions from the Peace Summit in Jeddah.
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