Russia reshuffles delegation for Abu Dhabi talks: ISW reveals Kremlin's strategy
Photo: Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky (Getty Images)
Russia has updated the lineup of its delegation that will take part in trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi. The list of participants could reveal a great deal about the Kremlin's plans for the upcoming meeting, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russia will now be represented in the talks by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, chief of the General Staff's Main Intelligence Directorate admiral Igor Kostyukov, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, as well as Deputy Foreign Ministers Mikhail Galuzin and Sergei Ryabkov.
Analysts recall that Kostyukov led the Russian delegation during the first two rounds of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi in late January and early February 2026. He was later replaced by Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation at talks in Geneva, Switzerland, in February 2026.
At the time, however, Medinsky dragged out the negotiations by discussing the "historical roots" of the war.
Ushakov is a senior Kremlin official who regularly comments on the progress of negotiations with Ukraine and has repeatedly voiced Moscow's maximalist demands: Ukraine must make unilateral concessions before Russia agrees to hold any meaningful peace talks.
Galuzin was a member of the Russian delegation at talks in Istanbul, Türkiye, and Geneva (in May 2025 and February 2026). He has also repeatedly stressed the need to address the "root causes" of the war.
Ryabkov has not officially participated in peace negotiations, but he frequently states that Russia can accept only peace proposals that align with Putin's military objectives and the "realities on the ground." He also regularly reaffirms Russia's commitment to certain agreements with the US that were allegedly reached following the August 2025 summit in Alaska.
He also helped advance the Kremlin's ultimatums to NATO, which were aimed at dismantling the Alliance in its current form under the pretext of providing Russia with "security guarantees."
"The Kremlin appears to be sending a delegation of officials who previously stalled negotiations, which further indicates that the Kremlin remains disinterested in engaging in good faith negotiations. The addition of Ryabkov is notable, as the Kremlin may use Ryabkov’s previous experience with the 2021 ultimatums to deflect from Ukraine’s efforts to secure security guarantees at the trilateral negotiations," the analysts noted.
Yesterday, it was reported that Russia had decided who would represent the country in the next round of talks with the US and Ukraine on ending the war. The delegation will include senior diplomats and military officials.
The trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. The parties plan to discuss ending Russia's war against Ukraine. These will be the first talks of this kind since February.
The Ukrainian side has also announced the composition of its delegation for the trilateral talks with the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi. It will include Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov.
Initially, he said he would lead the negotiating team. However, presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn later clarified that Budanov would be one of its members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that security guarantees must be discussed during the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11.
