According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia and Ukraine are expected to discuss principles for a future comprehensive settlement of the war during US-mediated trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.
Speaking at a news conference, the Russian Foreign Minister said the negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States would focus on establishing principles to guide a broader agreement to end the conflict.
“The consensus among all parties is that the negotiations will be focused on agreeing on the principles that will be adopted upon the conclusion of the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.”
Sergey Lavrov
The discussions are expected to address security guarantees for Russia, Ukraine and the wider region, with Moscow welcoming remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that security arrangements would be a priority.
Lavrov stated that Russia supported placing security issues at the centre of the negotiations.
“I heard Marco Rubio’s statements that security issues are becoming paramount at the Abu Dhabi talks on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian conflict. Moreover, the agenda of the Abu Dhabi talks places security issues concerning Russia, Ukraine and the region as a whole at the top of the list. We fully welcome this approach.”
Sergey Lavrov
Composition Of Russian Delegation
Lavrov also defended the composition of Russia’s delegation, saying that the inclusion of Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov was appropriate given his experience in arms control and relations with NATO.
Ryabkov will join Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in the Russian delegation, which is expected to be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.
“The participation of another Deputy Minister alongside Mikhail Galuzin, namely Sergey Ryabkov, who oversees North Atlantic affairs and arms control issues in the broadest sense and who, incidentally, spent a significant part of his career working on OSCE-related matters, is quite natural.”
Sergey Lavrov
The delegation will also include representatives of two directorates of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, Igor Kostyukov and Yury Zhigarlovsky.
Ukraine’s delegation is expected to be led by Rustem Umerov, Head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
Russian presidential Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov said that the talks would focus on security guarantees, with detailed discussions taking place behind closed doors.
The inclusion of diplomatic and military officials on the Russian side reflects the security and strategic issues expected to feature in the negotiations.
Russian Official Dismisses Disinformation Concerns
Ahead of the talks, Daniil Bisslinger, Vice President of the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), said that he did not believe disinformation campaigns would derail the negotiation process.
Speaking to a Russian news agency on the sidelines of the Russia-Uzbekistan Media Forum, Bisslinger noted that negotiations attracting significant international attention could become targets of attempts to influence public perceptions.
“When there is an event that raises high expectations, parties with various interests use certain tools to try to influence it. We are not seeing any threat to these negotiations.”
Daniil Bisslinger
He argued that the experience of the Russian delegation would make it difficult for disinformation campaigns to influence the discussions. “On our side, the professionalism of the participants is so high that influencing them through disinformation campaigns would not merely be difficult – it would be impossible,” Bisslinger said.
Türkiye Offers Istanbul As Alternative Negotiation Venue
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his country’s willingness to host further negotiations aimed at ending the war, offering Istanbul as a possible venue.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Baku, Erdoğan pointed to Türkiye’s previous involvement in diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Kyiv. “The negotiating platform we established in Istanbul, our initiative on the grain corridor, and the role we played in prisoner exchanges are an unprecedented example of Turkey’s pivotal role in the peace process,” he said.
He added that Ankara was prepared to use its diplomatic channels to support further negotiations if required.
“If necessary, we are ready to once again offer Istanbul as a venue for negotiations and to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal. We believe that peace can be achieved.”
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Türkiye previously hosted talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives and played a role in diplomatic arrangements concerning the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.
The Abu Dhabi meeting will provide another opportunity for the parties to discuss the security arrangements and principles that could underpin a wider settlement.
However, with the detailed negotiations expected to take place behind closed doors, the extent of progress will depend on whether Russia, Ukraine and the United States can reach common ground on the terms of a possible agreement.
READ ALSO: Authorities Decry Global Indifference To Gaza’s Woes
