US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that some progress has been made regarding the “security infrastructure” for Ukraine and Europe following the war with Russia. His comments came ahead of his travel to Paris for meetings with G7 foreign ministers and as preparations intensify for negotiations in Abu Dhabi later this week.
Rubio indicated that discussions during the upcoming talks could lead to further advances in defining what a post-conflict security architecture would look like. The negotiations, mediated by the United States, are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will represent the American side in the discussions.
Post-war security architecture
In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” broadcast on Sunday, President Donald Trump expressed belief that the war would end soon. He suggested that Ukraine might emerge from a settlement with altered borders, stating, “I think we’re gonna have it done, and I think it’s gonna happen and they’re gonna end up with a little bit different shape Ukraine.” When asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was delaying the process, Trump replied, “Oh, I don’t think so.”
Rubio addressed the concept of security guarantees in the same interview context, noting that the need for such protections has been a recurring theme in US-Russia-Ukraine talks. “I think that’s what the president’s alluding to, is that there’s been some advances made in what that architecture could look like post-conflict,” Rubio said. He emphasized that the focus remains on establishing a viable security framework for the region.
European involvement in the peace process is also taking shape. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that France would be well represented at the Abu Dhabi talks. Speaking to French radio station RTL, Barrot stated, “France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in these discussions.” He declined to specify which officials would attend but affirmed France’s participation.
Continued strikes and energy disruptions
While diplomatic efforts move forward, violence on the ground persists. A Russian drone strike on Sunday hit emergency workers conducting rescue missions in southern Ukraine. The attack targeted a former school and a nearby shelter in the village of Komyshuvakha, an area previously bombed by Russian forces. Ukrainian authorities reported that no injuries occurred in this specific strike, but rescue equipment was damaged. Approximately 50 people remain missing following the incident.
The conflict continues to impact critical infrastructure. Power was restored to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine on Sunday. The plant had lost its external electricity supply earlier in the day, forcing it to rely on backup generators for reactor cooling. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the cause and location of the disconnection were unknown. This marked the 27th such incident at the facility since the beginning of the full-scale conflict.
Russia also reported strikes on Ukrainian maritime and energy targets. The Russian defence ministry claimed that overnight strikes hit three cargo vessels carrying military goods for Ukraine. According to the ministry, one container ship was delivering weapons to the Black Sea port of Odesa, while another in the nearby port of Chornomorsk carried dual-use cargo. A third vessel, a dry cargo ship, was struck south-west of Odesa. Russia also stated it hit two electricity substations supplying power to the Ukrainian defence industry.
In a separate development regarding energy security, Moldova launched a new power line connecting the country to Romania and the European grid on Sunday. President Maia Sandu highlighted the move as a break from past dependencies, writing on X, “For decades, Moscow used energy to blackmail us. No more. Moldova buys zero Russian gas.” The former Soviet republic, which has a population of 2.6 million, has faced significant energy challenges since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
Source: The Guardian
