Ukraine and Russia were set to have important talks in Doha this month to agree on a truce that would stop both sides from attacking each other’s energy infrastructure. This deal was supposed to offer a break from the constant bombings and provide relief to both countries. Qatar was going to mediate these talks, meeting separately with each side to try and work out a deal.
But everything changed when Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Russia’s Kursk region last week. This unexpected move threw a wrench into the planned discussions. Officials said that the planned summit and possible agreement are now on hold because Russia saw the attack as a major escalation and decided to delay the talks, reported the Washington Post.
For over a year, the conflict has seen both sides targeting each other’s power supplies. Russia has been hitting Ukraine’s power grid with missiles and drones, causing widespread blackouts. On the other hand, Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s oil facilities, which has led to significant damage and higher global gas prices. The proposed Doha talks aimed to put a temporary stop to these attacks, offering some hope for both countries.
The Doha summit was supposed to be a step toward a more extensive peace agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said Ukraine would only agree to a full cease-fire if Russia withdrew all its troops from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Russia, however, demanded that Ukraine give up four regions that it has claimed as part of Russia.
The two sides hadn’t met face-to-face for talks since the early months of the war. Previous attempts at negotiations, including a grain deal and humanitarian corridors, had fallen apart. Now, the Russian officials postponed their meeting with Qatari mediators because of Ukraine’s cross-border offensive. The talks were meant to be a step towards a broader cease-fire, but the attack made it seem less likely that a deal would happen soon.
Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory was partly a strategy to gain leverage for future talks. Ukrainian officials hoped that by capturing Russian land, they would strengthen their position in negotiations. However, this move has also led to doubts about whether immediate peace talks will succeed.
Moscow has continued its attacks in Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials worry about how the country will cope with the upcoming winter if the bombings continue. The planned peace talks in Doha were seen as a chance to address this critical issue, but the recent events have made the possibility of a deal more uncertain.
As of now, the planned summit has been postponed, and the future of peace talks remains up in the air. Both sides had shown some willingness to discuss a temporary halt to attacks, but with the recent developments, it’s unclear when or if a deal will be reached.
