00:01Three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. opened Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates
00:07as Washington renews its push to end the war that followed Moscow's invasion nearly five years ago.
00:14But many in Ukraine doubt that the latest talks can achieve peace,
00:19citing the failure of previous encounters to end the war.
00:26There have already been quite a lot of such meetings.
00:30So to be honest, I don't know what to expect, whether there will be any breakthrough or not.
00:36I always believe in the best, but well, we'll see.
00:39I always believe that the next meeting will be a breakthrough toward peace,
00:43toward people stopping suffering and dying.
00:49Honestly, there are no expectations, just thoughts like let them meet, talk and finally get it over with,
00:54because I don't want to build up hope, as it's very hard to be disappointed later if something goes wrong.
01:02A short, localized ceasefire last month was touted as a positive step,
01:08even as fierce fighting continued elsewhere on the front line.
01:13Of course, we have reason to expect something,
01:15because a protracted war, in the form it is currently being waged,
01:20is actually counterproductive for Putin himself.
01:23Strictly speaking, from the perspective of his own long-term interests,
01:28it is in his own best interest to bring it one end.
01:31Therefore, we cannot rule out the possibility that, at some point,
01:36reason, and one might say, a strategic vision, will prevail over his emotions.
01:42President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to pull back its forces
01:46from the four regions that Russia annexed early in the war.
01:50He has a chance to say!
