The key facts

  • On November 10, the first meeting of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US began in Abu Dhabi; the previous full-fledged trilateral talks took place in February 2026.
  • The Russian delegation consists of 11 people, including Medinsky, Ryabkov, Galuzin, Kostyukov and FSB representatives.
  • Political scientist Konstantin Blokhin believes the main indirect US goal is to 'drive a wedge' between Russia and China.

Talks resumed after nine months

On November 10, the first meeting of the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States began in Abu Dhabi. As Gazeta.Ru notes, the last full-fledged trilateral talks took place in February of this year, meaning nine months have passed between rounds. The round was opened by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after which he left the hall.

Composition of the Russian delegation

The Russian delegation includes 11 people. Among them are Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov and Deputy Head of the General Staff's Main Operations Directorate Yuri Zhigarlovsky, Head of the FSB Directorate for Operational Information and International Communications Alexei Komkov, as well as First Deputy Head of the FSB Dmitry Minaev. Such a broad composition — involving the Foreign Ministry, the General Staff and the FSB — indicates that the discussion covers not only the political track but also the military and security tracks.

Assessment of US goals

Political scientist and Americanist Konstantin Blokhin told Gazeta.Ru what lies behind the US position at the talks. In his view, Washington's main but indirect goal is to 'drive a wedge between Russia and China,' reorienting Russia 'from East to West.' He believes that US President Donald Trump, fearing a rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing, has long sought to 'bring Russia back, as it were, into the West's sphere of influence,' and that this is what defines the White House's strategy on the Ukrainian crisis — negotiating with Russia. This is the analyst's assessment, not confirmed information about the American delegation's position.

Context around the round

The talks are taking place against the backdrop of diplomatic activity by other participants: earlier, European politicians issued a statement following a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi. Nothing has yet been reported in available publications about the content of the round itself or its outcomes.