Abu Dhabi: Russia has announced an expanded delegation of senior diplomatic and military officials for the next round of peace negotiations involving Ukraine and the United States, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.
The Russian delegation will be led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky and include Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, senior General Staff officer Yuri Zhigarlovsky and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
The announcement was made by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Saturday. Ryabkov will join the negotiating team for the first time. He is responsible for arms control, non proliferation and Russia's relations with North and South America.
Kostyukov heads Russia's military intelligence agency, while Zhigarlovsky serves as deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff. Their participation brings senior military expertise into the Russian delegation.
Medinsky will continue as the chief negotiator, maintaining continuity with Russia's previous diplomatic efforts. Galuzin has also participated in earlier negotiations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the delegation during a Security Council meeting in Moscow on November 6 to discuss preparations for the upcoming talks. He also thanked the United Arab Emirates for hosting the negotiations.
The Abu Dhabi meeting is expected to bring together representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the United States as Washington attempts to restart diplomatic efforts to end the war.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential envoy Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington. The discussions are expected to cover ending the conflict, security arrangements for Ukraine, de escalation and humanitarian issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also confirmed preparations for the meeting following discussions with American officials. On November 4, he held a telephone conversation with Witkoff and Kushner to discuss the diplomatic process and possible outcomes.
Ukraine's delegation is expected to be led by Rustem Umerov, head of the country's Foreign Intelligence Service. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, is also expected to participate.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has outlined several priorities for the negotiations. These include security guarantees, an energy truce, de escalation in the Black Sea, prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children.
Kyiv has repeatedly stressed that any peace agreement must provide reliable security arrangements to prevent another Russian invasion. Ukraine also wants an end to attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly energy facilities that are essential for electricity, heating and water supplies.
However, diplomatic preparations are continuing alongside Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight on November 6 and 7 damaged energy infrastructure and buildings. Ukrainian officials reported that at least one person was killed and eight others were wounded, including a child.
The attacks also affected energy facilities in several districts of the Kyiv region. Ukrainian authorities warned of difficulties affecting essential services as temperatures approached freezing.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted military industrial facilities and energy and transport infrastructure.
The continuing attacks highlight the challenges facing the planned negotiations, as both countries remain divided over several major issues.
Territorial control, particularly in the eastern Donbas region, remains one of the main obstacles to a settlement. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territory in the region, while Kyiv has rejected surrendering land as part of a peace agreement.
Security guarantees are another major disagreement. Ukraine wants international commitments to protect its territory after the war, but the precise arrangements acceptable to Russia, Ukraine and their international partners remain unresolved.
European countries are also seeking a role in discussions about Ukraine's future security. Zelenskyy held talks with leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries on November 6 to discuss preparations for the negotiations and wider European security concerns.
Although European representatives have been involved in preparatory discussions, their direct participation in the Abu Dhabi meeting has not been established.
The upcoming talks represent an important diplomatic effort after months of stalled negotiations and continued fighting. The involvement of senior military and diplomatic officials suggests that Russia is preparing a delegation with expertise in several areas relevant to the discussions.
However, there is no confirmed agreement on a ceasefire, territorial concessions or the final terms of a peace settlement. The negotiations will test whether the three countries can make progress towards ending the war or reach limited agreements on security and humanitarian issues.