After the midterm elections to the U.S. Congress, the Kremlin is counting on weaker positions for Donald Trump and is looking for ways to secure further easing of sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg пишет. Negotiations between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi, where Moscow has again sent Vladimir Medinsky.
According to Bloomberg, in Moscow they no longer believe that Donald Trump will be able to force Ukraine to accept a peace agreement on Russian terms. Agency sources believe this is pushing Vladimir Putin to prolong the war by intensifying strikes on Ukraine and increasing pressure on European countries supporting Kyiv.
A source close to the Kremlin told Bloomberg that the Russian leadership wants to secure further easing of U.S. sanctions, following the example of the diesel deal announced by Trump in early October. According to him, Moscow's goal is to convince Trump that the U.S. and Russia can do business together without a prior end to the war in Ukraine.
Talks in Abu Dhabi are due to take place on November 10–11 in a U.S. — Ukraine — Russia format, and Moscow has again sent Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky to them. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the new round will focus on postwar arrangements on security issues, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and next steps on the path to peace.
Emily Ferris, a research fellow at the London-based think tank RUSI, told Bloomberg that there is a risk that Trump will once again shift to a new operation against Iran. According to her, this scenario is especially likely if Russia maintains its territorial claims to Kyiv.
Ferris also said this could jeopardize U.S. military aid to Ukraine. She explained that in Washington there may be an argument to use these resources against Iran or to support Israel's air defense.
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