'Looks like bribe to Russia': diplomat slams UAE talks format

Dmytro Dovhopolyi, a candidate of historical sciences, UN Secretariat employee (1987-2019), and diplomat, stated this on Espreso TV.

"Regarding the prospects of achieving something at the negotiations in the UAE, it seems to me that Russia will push as hard as it can. Russia does what it is allowed to do. Much depends on the position Trump takes. For me, a warning signal is the format of the negotiations: two groups, one on security, the other on economics. In diplomacy, there is such a term as 'package and package' (pack - unpack), 'link and link' (link - unlink). It is absolutely normal when one or two issues that can be resolved are selected and separated from the other twenty," the diplomat noted.

In his opinion, it is extremely unfortunate that security and economic negotiations have been packaged together.

"This looks very much, I'm afraid to say this word, like a bribe for Russia, because at least there will be some agreement. As I understand it, the Russians are setting the task of recovering their assets. There may be a question about returning assets. What is more painful for us - losing Donbas or giving Russian assets back to the Russians?" Dmytro Dovhopolyi commented.

• On January 23, negotiations between Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations began in Abu Dhabi. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that the Donbas issue would be key.