Diplomats and Military Officials Prepare for Trilateral Abu Dhabi Talks
Senior military officials and diplomats, including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, will join Russia’s delegation for upcoming talks with the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday and Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax news agency. The trilateral meeting aims to discuss ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine and marks the first such diplomatic session since February, Reuters reported.
Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky will head the Russian delegation again as chief negotiator. The team includes Ryabkov for the first time, alongside Yury Zhigarlovsky, a senior General Staff officer, according to the report. Ryabkov oversees Russia’s relations with North and South America while managing arms control, non-proliferation, and issues related to Iran’s nuclear program. Zhigarlovsky serves as deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, the body responsible for military planning and operations. Additional delegation members include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and chief of Russia’s military intelligence Igor Kostyukov, both of whom participated in past missions.
Putin Convenes Security Council for Talks Preparation
All members of the Russian delegation met with President Vladimir Putin on Friday during a Russian Security Council meeting partially devoted to the upcoming negotiations. During the televised portion of the gathering, Putin thanked the United Arab Emirates for hosting the talks and stated his intent to discuss preparations directly with the Russian team. Most of the meeting occurred behind closed doors, with the Kremlin releasing footage of only the opening minutes, as is customary for high-level security gatherings.
U.S. negotiators are pushing for a breakthrough in the protracted conflict before winter weather sets in. The previous U.S.-mediated peace talks took place in February, just before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran, according to Reuters.
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