The disagreement emerged during meetings between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi, where members of the Ukrainian negotiating team received claims from Russian military officers and intelligence officials about the extent of territorial control in eastern Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian account, the Russian representatives maintained that they had already taken control of half of Donbas, despite the continued Ukrainian presence in the areas being discussed.
Ukrainian Team Presents Evidence of Territorial Control
The Ukrainian delegation challenged the statements, telling the Russian representatives that video recordings, photographs and other evidence showed that the disputed territories remained under Ukrainian control.
The account described the disagreement as a significant problem in the negotiations, with the two sides presenting conflicting assessments of the battlefield situation.
It also raised concerns about the information Russian President Vladimir Putin receives regarding military developments in Ukraine.
Russia Expected to Seek More Time to Capture Eastern Ukraine
The Ukrainian account said Putin would likely tell American officials that Russian forces needed another one or two months to complete the occupation of eastern Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian side rejected the assessment of Russian territorial progress, maintaining that the claims did not reflect the actual situation on the battlefield.
The American delegation reportedly supported Ukraine’s assessment of developments along the front lines, according to the account of the discussions.
Ukraine Pushes for Direct Talks Between Leaders
The disagreement over territorial control has renewed calls for negotiations involving the leaders of the countries concerned.
The Ukrainian side said there were several unresolved issues that required direct discussions between the leaders, particularly concerning territories and communities affected by the war.
The possibility of arranging a meeting at the leadership level is expected to be discussed by the negotiating teams.
Kherson’s Division Also Raised During Discussions
The status of Kherson was among the sensitive issues identified during the discussions.
The city is currently divided by the Dnipro River, with Russian forces controlling one bank and Ukrainian forces holding the other.
The Ukrainian position highlighted the desire of residents to live together across both sides of the river, describing Kherson as a Ukrainian city.
The issue was identified as one of the matters that would require discussion between the leaders.
Negotiating Teams to Consider Leaders’ Meeting
The Ukrainian side said the negotiating teams would discuss the possibility of holding a meeting between the leaders the following day.
However, uncertainty remained over whether Russia would agree to such an arrangement.
The proposal is expected to be raised during the next round of discussions, as negotiations continue over territorial disputes and the situation on the battlefield.
