Russia, US, Ukraine conclude first day of talks

Photo: RIA Novosti

The Russian, US and Ukrainian delegations concluded their first day of talks in Abu Dhabi, which lasted 4.5 hours, including a break of about 40 minutes, a TASS correspondent reported.

TASS has summed up the results of the first day of talks.

About the talks

The meeting began at around 11:15 a.m. Moscow time (8:15 a.m. GMT).

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations used Russian to talks to each other, a source told TASS.

The talks lasted for 4.5 hours, including a 40-minute break.

Contacts will continue on November 11, a source said.

The Russian delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, the Ukrainian delegation - by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov.

US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan were sitting at the negotiating table in Abu Dhabi as talks commenced.

Despite the statements made by French officials, there were no European representatives at the negotiations.

Negotiation topics

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the talks will focus on security guarantees.

A source told TASS that the talks will address the creation of a new continental security system for the post-conflict period.

Participants will focus on developing mechanisms to prevent threats and strengthening regional stability, the source said.

According to the source, the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, which is a critically important issue, is just one item in the broad discussion, subordinate to the main goal of creating a comprehensive and indivisible security architecture for the entire continent.

Kremlin’s statement

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting on the prospects for progress toward a settlement or the possibility of reaching specific agreements following the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

The United States’ stance

According to the Axios news outlet, which cited a US administration official, Witkoff and Kushner want to use the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi to set out solutions for settling the Ukraine conflict.

US representatives have conducted daily calls with Russian and Ukrainian officials over the past two weeks to prepare for the discussions, it reported.

After the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Witkoff and Kushner may travel to Moscow and then to Kiev, it added.

Europe’s desire to take part in the talks

European representatives who decided to come to Abu Dhabi can sit in their hotel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, commenting on Europe's desire to take part in the Russia-Ukraine-US talks.

The Europeans’ presence in Abu Dhabi is nothing more than a publicity stunt and an attempt to provide media support for Kiev, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with Vesti.

No one actually understands "what the Europeans are going to do in Abu Dhabi or why they are flying there," she noted, since "the trilateral format of the talks does not allow for anyone’s participation other than Russia, Ukraine and US representatives."

Senior Russian diplomat: Too early to assess Abu Dhabi talks results

It is too early to assess the results of the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who is a member of the Russian delegation, said.

"Too early to talk about that," he told Vesti.

A source in the negotiating team told TASS earlier that the trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi will continue on Wednesday, November 11.

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