Moscow strengthens delegation for talks in Abu Dhabi, including top officials from Foreign Ministry and General Staff

Change in composition of RF negotiation group

The Russian side has decided to significantly bolster its team for the upcoming talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Unlike previous rounds, senior-level officials have been involved in the discussions, which may indicate Moscow's intention to move towards more concrete discussions on ending the war after several months of diplomatic deadlock.

According to Bloomberg, two key officials will join the negotiating delegation for the first time:

• Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, who is responsible for relations with the US;
• Yuri Zhigarkovsky, a representative of the General Staff, who specialises in military planning.

Signal of a shift in Kremlin approach

The inclusion of these specific representatives in the talks may serve as an indicator of a change in Kremlin strategy. The presence of experts in international relations and military planning in the group suggests the Russian side's readiness to engage in a more substantive dialogue on ending the war.