Medinsky to lead Russian delegation
Vladimir Medinsky had previously been named to lead the Russian delegation. The previously announced members also include Igor Kostyukov, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Yuri Zhigarlovsky, deputy head of the General Staff's Main Operations Directorate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the talks on November 6 during a meeting with permanent members of Russia's Security Council. According to Anadolu Agency, Putin said he had invited the delegation members who would travel to the United Arab Emirates. Medinsky, Kostyukov, Yuri Ushakov, Galuzin and Ryabkov attended the meeting.
Participants and security agenda
The Abu Dhabi meeting will bring Russia, the United States and Ukraine together for US-mediated, working-level negotiations focused on ending Moscow's war against Ukraine.
CBS News reported that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington. Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, leads its delegation, which will also include Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office.
Budanov told CBS News that the discussions would center on postwar security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia. He expressed "restrained optimism" about the possibility of progress toward an eventual meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, while saying that "these negotiations are not the last."
Energy strikes ahead of the meeting
The preparations for talks follow Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities across 10 regions, according to Ukraine's energy ministry, as reported by CBS News. Hundreds of thousands of households lost electricity, and much of Kyiv was left without water for more than 16 hours.
