Abu Dhabi Talks End in Deadlock, as Airstrikes Worsen Power Crisis

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Abu Dhabi: Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held rare, closed-door discussions in Abu Dhabi this week focused on territorial disputes, but the talks concluded without any visible progress, according to officials familiar with the matter. The meeting came as Russia intensified aerial attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering the most severe power disruptions since the start of the war nearly four years ago.

 Diplomatic sources said the discussions were narrowly centred on contested regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, including areas currently under Russian control. Kyiv reiterated its position that any settlement must respect Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders, while Moscow maintained its claims over occupied territories, leaving little room for compromise.

 The Abu Dhabi meeting was facilitated through indirect diplomatic channels, with the United Arab Emirates continuing its role as a neutral venue for discreet engagement between the two sides. While neither delegation issued a formal statement, officials indicated that the talks were exploratory and did not include proposals for a ceasefire or confidence-building measures.

 The diplomatic impasse coincided with a sharp escalation on the battlefield. Russian missile and drone strikes over the past week have targeted power plants, transmission lines and substations across multiple Ukrainian regions, causing rolling blackouts and forcing emergency power rationing. Ukrainian energy authorities said the latest wave of attacks has severely strained the grid during winter conditions, compounding humanitarian concerns.

 Ukraine’s government accused Russia of deliberately using energy infrastructure as leverage during negotiations, a claim Moscow has previously denied, arguing that its strikes target military-related facilities. Independent assessments cited by international agencies, however, show repeated damage to civilian power systems since the early stages of the conflict.

 Western governments and the United Nations have called for the protection of civilian infrastructure, warning that continued attacks could worsen displacement and economic instability. Meanwhile, analysts note that the lack of progress in Abu Dhabi reflects broader deadlock in the conflict, with both sides appearing entrenched ahead of what many expect to be a prolonged war phase.

 Despite the absence of tangible outcomes, diplomats said limited engagement remains preferable to complete diplomatic silence, suggesting that further talks could follow if conditions allow.