Ukraine and Russia "moved closer to peace" following Abu Dhabi talks – Medinsky

The head of the Russian delegation, Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, claims that Kyiv and Moscow "moved closer to peace" following trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi.

He told Russian media this, Censor.NET reports.

Russia talks of peace

Medinsky expressed the view that the meeting had brought the parties closer to ending the war.

"I think so. But a great deal now depends on all the participants in the process. Much depends on Ukraine, on the US position and on whether Europe comes to its senses," the Russian maintained.

"In any event, all the objectives we set will be achieved," Medinsky added.

Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi

On 10 November, US-mediated talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in the UAE. This was the first such meeting since February 2026.
Before meeting with Russia, Ukraine held talks with representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission. US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also joined those talks.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov, includes Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, Servant of the People faction leader Davyd Arakhamiia, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Kyslytsia and Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Vadym Skibitskyi.
The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Representatives of two directorates of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Igor Kostyukov and Yuri Zhigarlovsky, and Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin will also take part in the meeting in Abu Dhabi.
NATO is represented in Abu Dhabi by Chief of Staff Geoffrey van Leeuwen, who is the chief strategic adviser to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The second day of talks, on 11 November, lasted just under two hours.
US special representative Jared Kushner said he would meet with Putin on 12 November, followed by a meeting with Zelenskyy.