Ukrainian negotiating team starts meetings in Abu Dhabi - source
The Ukrainian delegation has already arrived for negotiations in Abu Dhabi (UAE), where it has begun the first meetings to discuss peace efforts.
As a source close to the Ukrainian negotiating team told Interfax-Ukraine, the first meetings have begun.
The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. The delegation includes Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov and his First Deputy Serhiy Kyslytsia, People’s Deputy David Arakhamia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Advisor to the Presidential Office of Ukraine Oleksandr Bevz.
As reported, bilateral (Ukraine - USA) and trilateral (Ukraine - USA - Russia) negotiations will be held on February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi. According to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, the work in the UAE will consist of two parts. In particular, a bilateral meeting with the American side will take place. The American side will be represented by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. It is planned to discuss the signing of security guarantees and the prosperity package, and some bilateral issues. A trilateral meeting is also planned. According to Umerov, the Russian side will also "be represented in a significant way, they will have a mandate to discuss military-political issues."
At the end of January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated the composition of the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the negotiation process with the United States and representatives of the Russian Federation on achieving a just and sustainable peace. The delegation includes ten members: Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and his first deputy Yevheniy Ostryansky, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov and his first deputy Serhiy Kyslytsia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Head of the Military Development and Reform Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Oleg Ivashchenko and his deputy Vadym Skibitsky, First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad, Advisor to the Presidential Office of Ukraine Oleksandr Bevz, and People’s Deputy David Arakhamia.
