Russia has determined the composition of its delegation for the next round of trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine on ending the war, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. The group will include both high-ranking diplomats and military officials. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Russian delegation will continue to be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, with new participants from the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff joining for the first time.
First talks since February
The meeting in Abu Dhabi will be the first such round since February, following a nearly nine-month hiatus. According to sources, the date was announced by US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and confirmed by the Kremlin. According to the American negotiator, the parties intend to discuss ending the war, post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian issues, and further steps toward resolving the conflict. The meeting will take place at the working group level, and representatives of European states have not yet been invited to the trilateral format.
Medinsky to lead, Ryabkov to join for the first time
As Dmitry Peskov stated, the head of the Russian delegation will again be presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov will join the group for the first time. His portfolio includes Russia’s relations with North and South American countries, as well as issues of arms control, non-proliferation, and Iran's nuclear program. His participation indicates that issues of disarmament and strategic stability will occupy a significant place on the round's agenda.
The military block of the delegation
Another new participant will be Yuri Zhigarlovsky, a high-ranking officer of the Russian General Staff who serves as Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, responsible for military planning and operations. The delegation will also include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and head of Russian military intelligence Igor Kostyukov; both have already participated in preliminary negotiations. Thus, the composition is balanced between diplomatic and military blocks.
Kyiv's position
The Ukrainian side has previously announced the composition of its delegation for the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. It will include the Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov. Initially, he stated that he would lead the negotiating group, but later presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn clarified that Budanov would be one of the participants, not a sole leader. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to discuss security guarantees during the upcoming peace talks on November 10–11.
American and European components
According to Reuters, the US delegation at the meeting is expected to be represented by Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Before the trilateral round, American negotiators will hold consultations in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, the UK, the EU, and NATO; their topics will include security guarantees for Ukraine, the future European security system, and financing the country's post-war reconstruction. Previously, during the first two rounds in Abu Dhabi (January 23–24 and February 4–5), the Russian side was represented by a group led by the head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff, which highlights both continuity and an expansion of the composition at the current stage.
