Russian Diplomats and Military Officials to Join Talks with U.S. and Ukraine, Kremlin Says

By Reuters Nov. 7, 2026 Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky in Geneva, Switzerland during Ukraine peace talks on Feb. 18, 2026. Harold Cunningham / AFP Russia's delegation for talks with the United States and Ukraine next week will include senior military officials and diplomats including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax news agency. The trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, meant to discuss ending Moscow's war against Ukraine, is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday and will be the first such talks since February. Russia's delegation, headed again by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky as chief negotiator, will include Ryabkov for the first time, as well as Yury Zhigarlovsky, a senior General Staff officer, the report said. Ryabkov oversees Russia's relations with North and South America and is responsible for arms control, non-proliferation and issues related to Iran's nuclear programme. Zhigarlovsky is a deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, the body responsible for military planning and operations. The delegation will also include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and chief of Russia's military intelligence Igor Kostyukov, who have joined past missions, according to the report. All members of the delegation met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at a Russian Security Council meeting that was partly devoted to the upcoming talks. During the televised portion of the meeting, Putin thanked the United Arab Emirates for hosting the negotiations and said he wanted to discuss preparations for the talks with the Russian team. Most of the meeting took place behind closed doors, with the Kremlin showing only the opening minutes, as is customary for such gatherings. U.S. negotiators have been seeking a breakthrough in the long-running conflict before the winter sets in. The last U.S..-mediated peace talks took place in February before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. Read more about: Peace Talks , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukraine War Talks Delayed to Wednesday, Zelensky Says The announcement comes a day after one of Putin's top envoys held surprise talks with U.S. officials in Florida without Kyiv. 3 Min read U.S. Envoy Reports 'Constructive' Ukraine Talks With Russia The U.S. says both sides are close to a deal, but they have so far been unable to find a compromise on the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement... 2 Min read Russia’s Lavrov Says West Trying to ‘Block' Ukraine Peace Talks The FM also accused Ukrainian authorities of 'attempts to disrupt the process that was laid down by Presidents Putin and Trump.' 1 Min read Ukraine Strikes Russian Bombers Ahead of Istanbul Talks Ukraine's SBU security services said the strikes hit 41 planes that were used to "bomb Ukrainian villages." 3 Min read