Russia Names Medinsky, Ryabkov for Abu Dhabi Ukraine Talks
Russia will send Vladimir Medinsky, Sergei Ryabkov and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov to U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11.
Featured photo: The Abu Dhabi skyline (file photo). Photo: FritzDaCat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
ABU DHABI — Russia will send senior diplomats and military officials to U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 7, 2026, according to Reuters, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Who is going
Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead a delegation that includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and senior General Staff officer Yury Zhigarlovsky, the report said. Ryabkov, who handles relations with the United States and arms control, joins for the first time.
Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov and will include Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky’s chief of staff, and David Arakhamia, head of his parliamentary faction, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Why it matters
It would be the first trilateral round since February, the report said. Bloomberg reported that the expanded delegation could signal Moscow’s willingness to discuss both political and military issues.
What to watch
Assessment: Ryabkov’s presence is the new element. Watch for whether arms control or broader U.S.-Russia issues enter the agenda, and whether strikes on Ukrainian cities slow during the talks.
