Putin's assistant to head Russian delegation on Ukraine-US-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi

What Happened

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a Russian delegation will arrive in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November to participate in trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia negotiations, according to the Kremlin-aligned RIA Novosti news agency. Peskov said Vladimir Medinsky, an assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, remains the chief Russian negotiator for the process. Peskov added that there are no precise plans yet for Putin to contact negotiators before departure, but that delegation members already report regularly to Putin and receive instructions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier said a trilateral technical team meeting on ending the war was planned for the first half of November, that holding it depended on the American side, and that Ukraine sought to move the Abu Dhabi talks forward by at least one week and involve an EU representative. Zelenskyy also said he was ready to meet Putin and US President Donald Trump in Istanbul to discuss terms for ending the war.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The announced talks would bring Russian, Ukrainian, and US representatives together in a direct trilateral format, potentially marking a concrete diplomatic channel amid the war. Medinsky's position as Putin's assistant heading the delegation indicates high-level Kremlin involvement. Ukraine's effort to accelerate the meeting and involve an EU representative reflects Kyiv's push to broaden the process, while Zelenskyy's stated readiness for an Istanbul leaders' meeting points to possible next-stage diplomacy.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Russian delegation actually arrives in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November and whether Ukrainian and US representatives participate. Watch for confirmation of the US side's position and any decision on including an EU representative. Observe whether Putin contacts Medinsky or other delegation members before departure, as Peskov said no precise plans exist. Zelenskyy's proposed Istanbul meeting with Putin and Trump remains a potential next diplomatic step; any scheduling announcements or preparatory talks would be significant.