Umerov to lead Abu Dhabi delegation
David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s parliamentary group, confirmed Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian negotiation team at trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10. The clarification removes the confusion caused by media reports that Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky’s chief of staff, would lead the delegation. Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelensky’s communications adviser, told reporters that Budanov would attend but not lead. The delegation includes Arakhamia, Lytvyn, Budanov, Umerov, and Serhii Kyslytsia, who is the first deputy head of the Presidential Office, to address the conflict in a trilateral format alongside Russian and American officials. Arakhamia confirmed Umerov’s role following a White House briefing and stated, "No, it’s Umerov."
Trilateral talks and European responses
The Abu Dhabi talks feature Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. officials. The Ukrainian team will discuss Russia’s recent escalating attacks, including the deadly strike on a humanitarian aid center in Komyshuvakha, with both the U.S. and Russian delegations. Moscow rejects Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Kyiv supports, and continues to demand that Ukraine cede Donbas. Budanov told CBS News in an interview, "these negotiations are not the last, they are not final."
| Negotiating Party | Status in Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|
| Ukraine | Led by Rustem Umerov |
| Russia | Participating negotiator |
| United States | Participating negotiator |
| European Union | Not expected to attend |
European, Ukrainian, and U.S. representatives met in Brussels on Nov. 5 to coordinate positions before the Abu Dhabi talks. This follows a call between Zelensky and a group of eight Nordic and Baltic countries on Nov. 6. European officials do not expect to attend the Abu Dhabi meetings, though they provide the bulk of military and financial support to Kyiv and lead efforts to provide security guarantees for Ukraine if a ceasefire occurs. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni complained about a lack of unified approach among European nations regarding the negotiations. EU leaders plan to discuss how the bloc is represented at peace talks on Nov. 13. Zelensky said that "there have been many preparatory steps in recent days: a meeting in Brussels involving NATO and Europeans, my contacts with the U.S. president’s envoys, and virtually constant communication between our negotiating teams."
