Ukraine and Russia were supposed to send delegations to Doha by the end of the month to negotiate a “historic” agreement to stop attacks on energy and electricity infrastructure on both sides, but the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk has ruined this secretly organized initiative.
The revelation comes from the Washington Post, citing diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions. The hope was that indirect negotiations through Qatar could lead to a more comprehensive deal to end the war. Ukrainian and Russian emissaries have not met face-to-face for talks since the early months of the war, when delegations from both sides met for secret talks in Istanbul. Those talks, however, failed. The two sides later agreed to a grain deal that led to Russia temporarily lifting a naval blockade, allowing Ukraine to move grain across the Black Sea. That, too, fell through months later when Russia withdrew from the deal. Other attempts to establish humanitarian corridors have largely failed. As for the planned new talks in Qatar (which is also a key mediator on Gaza), a diplomat briefed on the matter said that Russian officials postponed their meeting with officials from the emirate after Ukraine’s incursion across the border.
The Moscow delegation described it as “an escalation,” the diplomat said, adding that Kiev did not warn Doha of its offensive on Kursk. However, Russia “did not cancel the talks, it said to give us time,” the same source added. And although Ukraine still wanted to send its delegation to Doha, Qatar then refused because it did not see the point of a unilateral meeting. Ukraine was skeptical about the outcome of the possible negotiations, but offered its availability: in particular because of repeated Russian attacks in recent weeks precisely on Ukrainian electricity infrastructure. In response to questions from the Washington Post, the Ukrainian presidential office said that the meeting in Doha was postponed “due to the situation in the Middle East,” but that it would take place in a video conference format on August 22, after which Kiev would consult with its partners on the implementation of what was discussed. The Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did the White House, the paper wrote. Military analysts, the Post noted, believe Kiev’s move to push into Russia would serve to give Ukraine greater leverage in any future negotiations. However, the same analysts doubt that Ukrainian forces can maintain control of Russian territory. Kiev may have improved its future negotiating position by capturing part of Kursk, they noted, but it has certainly derailed the possibility of peace talks any time soon.