The Russian delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and includes deputy foreign ministers Mikhail Galuzin and Sergey Ryabkov, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Ukrainian team is headed by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov, while U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan were seated between the two delegations.
No European representatives were present at the negotiating table. Photos published in Ukrainian media showed the U.S. delegation meeting separately with the Ukrainian team and envoys from France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the EU ahead of the talks.
First Day of Talks Concludes Behind Closed Doors
The closed-door meeting began at 12:12 local time, or 11:12 Moscow time, and lasted almost four hours with a short break, Pravda EN reported [1]. No details of the discussions were released by any delegation. Most of the principals at the meeting -- Kushner, Witkoff, Umerov and Medinsky -- did not publicly comment on the talks Tuesday, the Washington Times reported [2].
At the opening of the negotiations, Medinsky thanked the UAE for its hospitality and the U.S. for its peacemaking efforts, and expressed hope that the revised composition of Russia's delegation would help advance the peace process. The UAE's foreign minister also welcomed the delegations, thanking Trump, Putin and Zelensky for their trust in the host country.
Umerov said Vladimir Zelensky had authorized the Ukrainian delegation to discuss all issues related to ending the conflict. The head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service said on social media that his country had moved to a trilateral negotiation format involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia after initial Ukrainian discussions with NATO and European envoys [3].
Delegation Compositions and Statements
The Russian delegation includes deputy foreign ministers Mikhail Galuzin and Sergey Ryabkov, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Medinsky, the presidential aide leading the Russian team, expressed hope that the revised composition would help advance the peace process. Russian officials confirmed the talks in Abu Dhabi were held November 10-11 following U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg [4].
The U.S. delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The meeting marks the first trilateral talks since negotiations in Geneva ended without a breakthrough in February [5].
The Ukrainian team is led by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov, who said Zelensky authorized the delegation to discuss all issues.
European Representatives Absent from Table, Lavrov Comments
No European representatives were present at the negotiating table, but photos in Ukrainian media showed the US delegation meeting in a separate room with the Ukrainian team and envoys from France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the EU ahead of the talks. Umerov said representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission met separately in Abu Dhabi before US, Ukrainian and Russian officials began trilateral talks [6].
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would not obstruct Washington's contacts with European officials, but expressed doubt that such meetings would help negotiations.
Lavrov said the talks should first establish the parameters of security for Russia, Ukraine and the wider European region before moving on to a settlement of the conflict. European leaders had earlier expressed anxiety about being sidelined in negotiations, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying Europeans would be well represented and France would be in Abu Dhabi to take part [7].
References
- Talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine have concluded in Abu Dhabi - Pravda EN. https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/11/10/2733769.html
- U.S., Russia, Ukraine conclude first round of talks in Abu Dhabi as Washington pushes for guarantees. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/10/us-russia-ukraine-conclude-first-day-productive-meeting-abu-dhabi/
- US-Mediated Talks on Ending the War Between Russia and Ukraine Begin in Abu Dhabi. https://www.ntd.com/us-mediated-talks-on-ending-the-war-between-russia-and-ukraine-begin-in-abu-dhabi_1184415.html
- Putin Aide To Represent Moscow At Trilateral Ukraine Peace Talks Next Week. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-aide-represent-moscow-trilateral-ukraine-peace-talks-next-week
- US Mediates High-Stakes Ukraine–Russia Summit in Abu Dhabi: What to Know. https://theepochtimes.com/world/us-mediates-high-stakes-ukraine-russia-summit-in-abu-dhabi-what-to-know-6122887
- US-Brokered Peace Talks for Russia, Ukraine Begin in Abu Dhabi. https://theepochtimes.com/world/us-brokered-peace-talks-for-russia-ukraine-begin-in-abu-dhabi-6123028
- Europeans Will Join Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi, French Minister Says. https://www.ntd.com/europeans-will-join-ukraine-talks-in-abu-dhabi-french-minister-says_1184114.html
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