Ushakov says Medinsky may join Russian team at new Russia-US-Ukraine talks in November
In short
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on 21 October that presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky may join the Russian delegation at a new round of trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine. Ushakov said the level would be expert, with military representatives, and that Putin will decide who goes. He said the round may be held in Abu Dhabi in November.
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Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky may join the Russian delegation at a new round of trilateral talks on Ukraine involving Russia, the US and Ukraine, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said, according to RIA Novosti, Interfax and Kommersant. RBC reported that Medinsky and representatives of the military command may be part of the delegation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Speaking to Channel One, Ushakov described the expected level of the meeting. "This is the expert level, as before: military and presidential aide Medinsky," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying. In the Interfax version he said "The president will decide" who goes. Interfax and Kommersant reported that Putin will decide or approve the composition of the delegation, and Kommersant added that military personnel will also take part in expert-level meetings. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On timing, RIA Novosti reported that Ushakov said the new round may be held in Abu Dhabi in November. Interfax said Ushakov had earlier named the tenth days of November, and that after talks between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Ushakov said Putin had informed Witkoff of Russia's readiness to resume the trilateral talks in that period. Kommersant wrote that the next round may take place in early November in Abu Dhabi. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant provided background. It reported that in 2026 Russia, Ukraine and the US held three rounds of such meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. At the first two meetings the Russian delegation was headed by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff, and later by Medinsky. The parties last met on 17-18 February. A round planned for March in the UAE did not take place because of the war in the Middle East, Kommersant wrote. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks give an early indication of who may represent Russia if the trilateral format resumes. The documents give no confirmed date or final delegation list, so the plans remain provisional.
Key facts
- Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky may join the Russian delegation at a new round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ushakov told Channel One the talks are at expert level, "as before: military and presidential aide Medinsky". [ 1 , 2 ]
- Putin will decide who goes to the meeting, according to Interfax and Kommersant. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Ushakov said the new round may be held in Abu Dhabi in November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ushakov said Putin told US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia is ready to resume the trilateral talks in the tenth days of November. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kommersant reported that Russia, Ukraine and the US held three rounds of such meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva in 2026, the last on 17-18 February. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact timing of the round in November. Interfax and RIA Novosti cite the tenth days of November, while Kommersant says early November; the documents give no fixed date.
- Who will make up the Russian delegation. Ushakov said only that Medinsky may be included and that Putin will decide; RBC says military command representatives may also join.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti published Ushakov's statement that Medinsky may join the Russian delegation. [ 1 ]
- Interfax reported that Putin will decide who goes to the expert-level meeting. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant published its report on Ushakov's remarks, with background on earlier rounds. [ 3 ]
- RBC reported that Medinsky and military command representatives may join the delegation. [ 4 ]