Across a world still learning how to talk its way out of old wars, three threads ran through a single week: diplomats from Ukraine, Russia and the United States sat down together in Abu Dhabi for the first time in nine months, offering warm words but few disclosed terms. Far to the south, in a South Sudan burdened by drought, flood and displacement, the United Nations Security Council turned its attention to how a changing climate can deepen the quarrels between farmers and herders before the country's first national elections since independence. And in the Thai south, a bomb in Satun province
Ukraine Peace Talks Open Constructively in Abu Dhabi as South Sudan Votes Loom and Thai Violence Draws Child-Rights Alarm
A bomb attack in Thailand's Satun province injured at least three children on November 11, prompting Save the Children to call for protection of children.
Right now we have adjectives, not terms.
Mark
Ukraine, Russia and the US met in Abu Dhabi. Why does it matter?
Mimi
Because it's the first round after nine months without talks. Zelensky said prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues came up, and that's the kind of thing that can touch real families.
Mark
Rubio and Kushner were upbeat too.
Luke
Upbeat, yes, but nothing specific. Kushner said gaps were narrowed and gave no details. Right now we have adjectives, not terms.
Mark
Moving to South Sudan, why was the Security Council talking about climate?
Mimi
Over 80 percent of the country has been hit by drought, flooding or erratic rain, and that pushes farmers into fights over water and grazing land.
Mark
And elections are coming on December 22.
Mimi
The first national vote since independence in 2011, with fighting renewed between Kiir's military and insurgents believed to be allied with Riek Machar.
Luke
Note the wording: "believed to be allied." That's an attribution, not a confirmed fact. And the meeting produced recommendations, not commitments.
Mark
And Thailand?
Mimi
A bomb in Satun injured at least three children. Save the Children said school buses and schools must not become battlefields.
Luke
"At least three" means the count may be incomplete, and the source doesn't say who was responsible.
The Pulse
- Ukraine, Russia and the US finally returned to the same table in Abu Dhabi after nine months apart, yet officials offered only praise and no concrete terms.
- Kushner says the US has 'narrowed the gaps' without naming a single gap, leaving the outcome opaque.
- South Sudan's December 22 elections loom as renewed fighting between government forces and Machar-aligned insurgents flares.
- Drought, flooding and clashes over scarce land push 2 million displaced people and their neighbours toward a fragile edge.
- A bomb in Satun injured at least three children, and Malaysia's facilitator is now pressing the Thai peace process to hold.
Across a world still learning how to talk its way out of old wars, three threads ran through a single week: diplomats from Ukraine, Russia and the United States sat down together in Abu Dhabi for the first time in nine months, offering warm words but few disclosed terms. Far to the south, in a South Sudan burdened by drought, flood and displacement, the United Nations Security Council turned its attention to how a changing climate can deepen the quarrels between farmers and herders before the country's first national elections since independence. And in the Thai south, a bomb in Satun province reminded everyone that children are too often the ones caught between the rhetoric of negotiation and the reality of violence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the first day of talks in Abu Dhabi constructive and substantive. Delegates from Ukraine, Russia and the United States had gathered together for the first time in nine months, and humanitarian questions and prisoner exchanges were said to be on the agenda.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks very productive, and Jared Kushner claimed the sides had narrowed their gaps, though neither explained what those gaps were. For now the public has impressions, not terms.
In New York on November 10, the UN Security Council discussed South Sudan, where voters head to the polls on December 22. The council's focus was climate: more than 80 percent of the country has been hit by drought, flooding and erratic rain, sharpening competition over water and grazing land. Its recommendations called for acting ahead of climate risks, empowering local communities and civil society, and weaving climate considerations into peacekeeping.
These concerns sit atop renewed fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and insurgents linked to suspended Vice President Riek Machar, with roughly 2 million people displaced inside the country.
In southern Thailand, a bomb in Satun province on November 11 injured at least three children. Save the Children insisted that no child should be a target and that schools and buses must not become battlefields. The insurgency has killed nearly 8,000 people since 2004, and on the same day Malaysia's peace facilitator met officials to press the stalled southern peace process forward.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the first day of talks in Abu Dhabi "constructive and quite substantive." Delegates from Ukraine, Russia and the United States had sat down together for the first time in nine months, and Zelensky said humanitarian questions and exchanges of prisoners of war were on the agenda.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks as "very productive." Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, told delegates that the United States had "narrowed the gaps" between the two sides, though he did not say what those gaps were or how they had shrunk. Earlier, Kushner had said the discussions would center on the "postwar security concerns" of Ukraine and Russia. So far, then, the public record consists of characterizations, not terms.
In New York on November 10, the UN Security Council met to discuss peace efforts in South Sudan. The country votes on December 22, its first national elections since independence in 2011. The session was convened by council members who are signatories of the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security: Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Liberia, Panama, the United Kingdom and Latvia. The source account is written by a Latvian participant.
Their focus was climate. More than 80 percent of South Sudan has been affected by drought, flooding and erratic rainfall, which has sharpened competition between farmers over scarce water and grazing land. The meeting put forward three recommendations: prepare for and act ahead of climate risks; involve local communities and empower civil society organizations in planning for preparedness and response; and keep working to weave climate, peace and security considerations into peacekeeping activities.
Those concerns sit atop an active conflict. Fighting has flared again between the military loyal to President Salva Kiir and insurgents believed to be allied with suspended Vice President Riek Machar. South Sudan hosts roughly 330,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Sudan, and has 2 million people displaced inside its own borders by conflict.
In southern Thailand, a bomb attack in Satun province on November 11 injured at least three children. Save the Children responded through its executive director, Guillaume Rachou, who said no child should ever be a target, that children should never be caught in the crossfire, and that school buses, schools, homes and communities must not become battlefields. The region's insurgency has killed nearly 8,000 people since 2004.
On the day of the attack, Malaysia's facilitator for peace talks between the Thai government and the separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) met Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the prime minister's chief adviser on peace-building in the South. The facilitator planned to take up the situation in the south and the peace process with Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and NSC Secretary-General Chaiyapruek.
Three things are worth watching: whether the Abu Dhabi talks produce concrete prisoner exchanges, whether South Sudan's vote goes ahead on December 22 amid renewed fighting, and whether the Malaysian-facilitated process in Thailand holds after the Satun bombing.
Notable Quotes
The talks were constructive and quite substantive.— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
No child should ever be a target.— Guillaume Rachou, executive director, Save the Children
Want the full story?
Read the original at Peace News Network ↗