Negotiations over Ukraine have become part of a broader reconfiguration of the global order. Alongside peace initiatives, military pressure is mounting, and key arms control treaties are at risk of collapse. The EU is preparing for strategic defense autonomy, the U.S. is restructuring trade ties, and Moscow is trying to rejoin the “great game” without revising its aggressive policies.
Zelensky on the Abu Dhabi Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saidthat the key issue in the Ukraine–U.S.–Russia talks in Abu Dhabi would be discussing the position of the Russian delegation after consultations with its leadership. He said that Ukraine is ready to support any de-escalation steps proposed by American partners. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is open to diplomacy but expects concrete signals of Russia’s willingness to compromise. He added he would stay in constant contact with the Ukrainian delegation to respond promptly to developments in the talks.
At the same time, Zelensky drew attention to Russian military actions that, in his words, contradict the very logic of diplomacy. He saidthat the key issue in the Ukraine–U.S.–Russia talks in Abu Dhabi would be discussing the position of the Russian delegation after consultations with its leadership. He said that Ukraine is ready to support any de-escalation steps proposed by American partners. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is open to diplomacy but expects concrete signals of Russia’s willingness to compromise. He added he would stay in constant contact with the Ukrainian delegation to respond promptly to developments in the talks.
The World Could Enter a New Nuclear Arms Race – Politico
The expiration of the bilateral SNO-3 treaty between Russia and the United States could open the door to a global nuclear arms race for the first time since the Cold War. The 2010 agreement limited the number of deployed nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers by the two largest nuclear powers. Its end would mean the absence of a legally binding framework for controlling strategic arsenals.
The situation is complicated by the Kremlin’s earlier decision to ban international inspections of its nuclear forces and to propose extending the treaty under conditions unacceptable to the West. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire for a new agreement—with China’s participation—adding geopolitical complexity to the talks. In the U.S. Congress, Democrats have already warned of the risks of uncontrolled nuclear buildup. “We will enter a new and terrible world we haven’t seen in decades,” Congressman John Garamendi said.
Moscow Proposes ‘Normalization’ and Economic Cooperation with the U.S.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announcedthat it had submitted to Washington proposals to remove “serious barriers” to restoring full-fledged relations between the two countries. Among the demands are the resumption of direct flights and the return of seized Russian diplomatic property. Moscow insists that normalization would open “promising and mutually beneficial horizons for cooperation” with the U.S., naming energy, critical minerals, the Arctic, artificial intelligence, and space as its priorities.
At the same time, the ministry complained about resistance within Washington, which they claim is delaying the “healing” of relations. As an example, they cited unexpected U.S. Treasury sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft.
Despite Moscow’s declared readiness for dialogue, its statement contains no references to the war against Ukraine or adjustments to its aggressive policy—highlighting the gap between cooperative rhetoric and actual Kremlin behavior.
EU Plans Its Own Defense Data Platform Without the U.S.
The European Union is considering creating a sovereign platform for defense data exchange without U.S. involvement. According to Euractiv, the European Defence Agency plans to launch by 2030 a fully operational “European Defence Artificial Intelligence Data Space” (DAIDS). Its goal is to ensure secure exchange of classified military data among EU member states—an answer to growing concerns over dependency on American infrastructure.
The project envisions two interconnected elements: a data exchange platform and a “sovereign military cloud” for storage. The EU has already signed contracts with technology developers and is preparing joint procurement of related systems. Brussels emphasizes that military AI will become a key investment area, with systems expected to integrate into daily operations of European armies by the end of the decade.
India Rapidly Expands Purchases of U.S. Oil and Defense Goods
India has agreed to significantly increase purchases of American goods under a new trade deal with the United States, including oil, defense equipment, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications products. The total volume of future purchases could reach $500 billion, according to Donald Trump. The Indian side confirmed that these commitments will be implemented over several years.
Under the deal, India also agreed to partially open its agricultural market to American goods and lower tariffs on imported cars. Government officials in New Delhi highlight that the agreement reduces global economic uncertainty. At the same time, both sides admit that the current deal is just the first phase, and a full comprehensive pact will still be discussed. Indian authorities see this as the beginning of a new stage in strategic economic partnership with the U.S.
Photo: thisisbeirut
Author: Danylo Pievchev