Russia Names Delegation for Abu Dhabi Talks

Russia announced the composition of its delegation for talks with Ukraine, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi with US mediation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin's adviser Vladimir Medinsky will lead the delegation. The delegation will include Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galusin, GRU military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff's Main Operations Directorate Yuri Zhigarlovsky. Presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov will coordinate the process from the Kremlin. These will be the first talks of this format since February, with Medinsky having led all previous Russian delegations. US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the trilateral negotiations, which will focus on further steps toward peace. President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine "for the first time want to reach an agreement."