Russian and Ukrainian Delegations Arrive in Abu Dhabi for Trilateral Talks

Russian and Ukrainian delegations landed in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Nov. 9, to prepare for U.S.‑backed talks set for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to sources confirmed by Xinhua. The meetings are part of a broader effort to explore ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis and chart a path for post‑war recovery. The delegations will be accompanied by officials from NATO, the European Commission and European governments, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

Russia’s delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the head of state, while Ukraine’s delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, the chief of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Umerov announced on Telegram that the Ukrainian negotiating team was heading to the UAE for the talks. He added that Ukraine plans to hold separate coordination meetings with its European partners.

"Our goal is a long‑term and sustainable peace, guaranteed security for Ukraine, and real opportunities for Ukraine's post‑war recovery," Umerov said, pointing to the dual objectives of security guarantees and a sustainable peace plan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Paris on Nov. 9, highlighted the conditions for any security guarantees that might be offered to Kyiv. The dialogue would aide President Biden, who has stressed the importance of ending the war, but Rubio noted that such guarantees could not be delivered without Russia’s consent.

"The West will be able to provide Ukraine only with the security guarantees that Russia will also agree to," Rubio told reporters.

Rubio added that no final concrete plan had been settled yet, but that concepts similar to NATO’s Article 5 collective‑defence provisions were under discussion.

"I don't think we've settled on a final concrete plan on that," Rubio said, adding that the potential provision of security guarantees similar to Article 5 was being explored.

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the negotiations would focus on security guarantees, emphasizing that the format of the talks would remain strictly trilateral. Peskov said that European representatives could not participate, underscoring the strategic nature of the meeting’s scope.

Peskov told reporters that the discussions would emphasize Russia’s prerequisites ahead of any international security proposals. He also noted that the trilateral format was initially agreed upon and that European inclusion was therefore unlikely.

Both sides have underscored the critical importance of the Abu Dhabi meetings for charting a potential peace settlement. Ukraine’s delegation is keen to secure a post‑conflict framework that would protect its sovereignty, while Russia seeks assurance that any commitments will not compromise its perceived national security.

The trilateral talks are slated to resume on Nov. 10 and conclude on Nov. 11. The meeting will be the first such gathering between Russia, the United States and Ukraine since a Ukrainian ceasefire deal was announced in February, and it comes amid heightened diplomatic activity in the region.

Analysts note that the presence of key European actors—including NATO officials and European Commission representatives—may add pressure on both sides to explore realistic pathways to peace. The extent to which the trilateral talks can translate into actionable agreements remains uncertain, but all parties have delineated their priorities along lines of security, sovereignty and post‑conflict reconstruction.

While the meetings have not yet produced any announced outcomes, observers anticipate that the discussions may define the negotiating framework for subsequent engagement, potentially shaping the future security environment in Eastern Europe.