A Russian delegation has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a renewed round of peace negotiations with Ukraine, mediated by the United States. The talks begin on Tuesday.
The Russian team is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Ukraine is represented by a delegation headed by Rustem Umerov, chief of the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the discussions would centre on security guarantees. He confirmed that European representatives would not take part.
Peskov explained that the framework was established as a three-way format. European officials were absent because the talks were agreed upon specifically as a trilateral format involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
"What will take place in Abu Dhabi in the coming days is trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation," Peskov told reporters. "As for the presence of Europeans, you know that the Americans have their own channels of communication with Europeans, and Ukrainians with Europeans."
Peskov said these separate parties were likely establishing their own coordination mechanisms independently. He reiterated that the upcoming meetings are strictly limited to the three participating sides.
Russia, Ukraine, and the United States held three rounds of peace talks mediated by Washington earlier this year. Those sessions took place on January 23 and 24, February 4 and 5, and February 17 and 18.
The first two rounds earlier this year were hosted in Abu Dhabi, while the third round was conducted in Geneva.
