Russia makes controversial statement on peace talks in Abu Dhabi
Photo: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov (Getty Images)
Russia's Foreign Ministry has unexpectedly said that Abu Dhabi may not necessarily be the venue for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, contradicting earlier claims, according to TASS.
Ryabkov's statement
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called talk of a meeting in Abu Dhabi "premature."
Russia's deputy foreign minister did not confirm that trilateral peace talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine would take place in Abu Dhabi, although Moscow had previously discussed Abu Dhabi as a possible venue for the meeting.
"It is premature to talk about negotiations in Abu Dhabi for now. Of course, there was a preliminary understanding that such contact would take place in the near future, and Abu Dhabi was also mentioned as a possible venue. All of that is true. But overall, we are still at the preparation stage," he said.
At the same time, Ryabkov did not announce that the talks had been canceled.
The diplomat also said that Russia was engaged in close and intensive dialogue with the Trump administration. According to him, Russia relies on US efforts to reach a "lasting settlement in Ukraine that addresses the root causes of the conflict."
Date of the talks
Meanwhile, Russian leader Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov spoke almost in unison regarding the date of the peace talks.
"The date of the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi will be announced soon," Ushakov said.
He did not confirm that the talks were scheduled for November 10.
Putin's aide added that EU representatives would not be invited to the negotiating table on Ukraine.
Peskov made a similar statement. According to him, the Kremlin will announce the date once it is known for the "trilateral talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi between representatives of Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv."
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war could take place on November 10, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine would like to hold a meeting with the US and Russian teams in Abu Dhabi before joint talks involving the US, China, and Russia.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes that peace talks in Abu Dhabi will take place on November 4.
