Ryabkov says Russia and Ukraine preparing for possible talks

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said it was too early to say definitively that talks on resolving the Ukraine conflict would be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that Ryabkov confirmed a preliminary understanding on possible diplomatic contact in the near future, with Abu Dhabi under consideration as a venue. However, the Russian diplomat stressed that the parties are still at the stage of preparations and consultations.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was in principle ready to resume a trilateral format for talks on a Ukraine settlement. According to the Russian leader, the potential talks would focus on discussing comprehensive long-term security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine after final peace agreements are reached.

Putin also stressed that discussions should consider not only the localized conflict zone but, more broadly, the principle of an indivisible European collective security architecture and the existing balance.