Russia Selects Team for Abu Dhabi Peace Negotiations

Russia has finalized the roster of officials who will attend trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi with the United States and Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the lineup to Interfax, noting that the group includes high-ranking military leaders and diplomats.

The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. This will be the first direct meeting between the three parties since February. The primary objective is to determine a path toward ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Vladimir Medinsky, a Kremlin aide, will lead the Russian delegation as chief negotiator. Joining him for the first time are Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and General Staff officer Yuri Zhigarlovsky. Ryabkov oversees Russia’s relations with the Americas and handles arms control issues, including matters related to Iran’s nuclear program. Zhigarlovsky serves as a deputy chief in the Main Operational Directorate, which manages military planning.

The team also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Igor Kostyukov, the head of military intelligence. Both officials participated in previous negotiation missions. The entire delegation met with President Vladimir Putin on Friday during a Russian Security Council session dedicated in part to these upcoming talks.

During the televised portion of the session, Putin expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for hosting the meeting. He stated his intent to discuss preparations with his team. The remainder of the session was closed to the public, with the Kremlin broadcasting only the initial minutes, a standard practice for such gatherings.

American negotiators have sought a resolution to the conflict before winter conditions worsen. The last round of US-mediated talks took place in February, shortly before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.