The key facts

  • A new round of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US is taking place in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11
  • Peskov declined to predict the results while the talks are ongoing
  • European representatives have arrived in Abu Dhabi but are not taking part at the negotiating table

Peskov refrained from making predictions about the outcome of the talks

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, at a briefing with journalists, declined to assess whether the new round of talks on settling the conflict in Ukraine, taking place in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, would bring peace closer, and whether any concrete agreements would be reached as a result. «Let's not answer such questions, especially now, while these talks are ongoing,» he replied, as reported by Gazeta.Ru.

Report to Putin — depending on how the talks go

Peskov also explained that the Russian delegation, depending on the course of the talks with Ukraine and the United States, would decide whether to report to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a «telegraphic» mode or all at once in a comprehensive manner. According to him, the talks will discuss security guarantees both for Ukraine and for Russia.

The format and mandate of the Ukrainian delegation

European representatives have also arrived in Abu Dhabi, but they are not at the negotiating table. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, head of the country's Foreign Intelligence Service Rustem Umerov, according to him, received a mandate from President Volodymyr Zelensky before the talks to discuss all issues related to ending the conflict. Earlier, Steven Kushner said he hoped for an open dialogue in Abu Dhabi.