World players are simultaneously negotiating to end the war, planning the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and reviewing their own defense priorities. Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi were held without results against the backdrop of massive Russian strikes on Ukraine. In parallel, the US and the EU are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, but admit that without an end to the war, these plans remain on paper.
Negotiations in Abu Dhabi ended without results
The second day of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi ended without reaching agreements, despite the readiness of the parties to continue the dialogue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saidthat the key topic of the meetings was the possible parameters for ending the war. According to the US representative, the negotiations were detailed and took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect, and the next round could take place in a week. The two-day trilateral format was the first of its kind in a long time, including involving military representatives.
The talks took place against the backdrop of a massive night-time shelling of Ukraine, during which Russia attacked Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities with drones and missiles, which led to large-scale power outages. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that “the missiles hit not only our people, but also the negotiating table.” According to Axios, the next round of talks is scheduled for February 1 in Abu Dhabi.
Zaporizhzhia NPP has become one of the key topics of negotiations with Russia
The talks also paid considerable attention to economic issues, in particular the future of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. According to Politico, Russia insists that the electricity produced by the ZNPP be distributed between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. However, no agreements on this issue could be reached. The Ukrainian side is in favor of the option in which the plant will be operated by Ukraine and the United States.
The President of Ukraine has previously stated that the issue of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is one of the most sensitive in the negotiations, and the idea of joint management with the participation of Ukraine, the United States and Russia looks unrealistic. The Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and, before the occupation, provided more than a fifth of Ukraine's electricity. Russian troops seized the plant in early March 2022, after which it was used for military purposes. The talks also discussed Western security guarantees for Ukraine after the war.
$800 billion for the reconstruction of Ukraine
The European Union and the United States have developed a joint initiative to attract about $800 billion in public and private funds for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. This is stated in a document reviewed by Politico.
The plan is designed for 10 years and envisages Ukraine’s rapid progress towards EU membership, as well as the transition from emergency aid to self-sufficient economic development. At the same time, the implementation of the initiative directly depends on the cessation of hostilities, which currently remains unattainable.
The document envisages that the EU, the US and international financial institutions will allocate at least $500 billion by 2040. The European Commission plans to allocate an additional €100 billion within the next seven-year budget, which should unlock more than €200 billion in investment.
The US sees itself not only as a donor, but as a strategic economic partner of Ukraine, in particular in the areas of energy, infrastructure and critical minerals. At the same time, BlackRock emphasizes that “it is almost impossible to invest in a war zone” while shelling continues.
The US plans to contain China
The US Department of Defense has presented a new defense strategy, which prioritizes deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region. The document notes that China's dominance in this region would allow it to "effectively veto American access to the world's economic center of gravity." At the same time, the Pentagon saysthat the US does not seek to change the political regime in China or dominate it, but intends to maintain the balance of power and expand military communication channels.
Russia is called a "constant but manageable threat" to NATO's eastern members in the strategy. The Pentagon notes that the Russian war against Ukraine has demonstrated the readiness of Russian society for a protracted war, but Moscow does not have the resources to dominate Europe. At the same time, the document emphasizes that the responsibility for achieving and maintaining peace in Ukraine "primarily lies with Europe." Greenland, to which the US guarantees military and commercial access, is separately mentioned.
US seeks to lift restrictions on military presence in Greenland
The United States plans to revise its defense agreement with Denmark to gain full control over its military presence in Greenland, Bloombergreported. The current 1951 agreement, updated in 2004, requires the US to consult with Denmark and Greenland on significant changes in military activities. The American side seeks to remove and these restrictions to station troops and equipment without approval.
US President Donald Trump has previously said that the US will have “all the military capabilities it wants” in Greenland, without time or political constraints. Currently, there is one US base on the island with about 150 military personnel and more than 300 contractors, compared to 17 during the Cold War.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Copenhagen and Greenland are open to “further expansion” of the defense agreement. The review of the agreements comes against the backdrop of the growing strategic importance of the Arctic and competition between major powers in the region.
Photo:amp.dw.com
Author: Danylo Pievchev