Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: Moscow Names Military Delegation as Kyiv Comes Under Attack
Russia names senior diplomats and military officials for November 10-11 peace talks in Abu Dhabi as overnight strikes hit Kyiv's bridge and energy infrastructure.
Raja Awais Ali
11/7/20264 min read
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: Moscow Names Military Delegation as Kyiv Comes Under Attack
Russia is preparing to send a high-level delegation of diplomats and military officials to the United Arab Emirates for renewed negotiations with the United States and Ukraine, scheduled for November 10–11. The announcement came on November 7, as Russian forces launched a large overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv and surrounding areas, damaging critical energy infrastructure and a major bridge across the Dnipro River.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's Interfax news agency that the delegation would again be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who will serve as Moscow's chief negotiator. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will join the delegation for the first time, alongside Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Russian military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and senior General Staff officer Yuri Zhigarlovsky.
Ryabkov oversees Russia's relations with North and South America and is responsible for arms control, nuclear non-proliferation and issues related to Iran's nuclear programme. Zhigarlovsky serves as deputy chief of the General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, which is responsible for military planning and operations. Their inclusion brings diplomatic, strategic and military expertise into the Russian negotiating team.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the delegation during a Security Council meeting on Friday, November 6, to discuss preparations for the upcoming negotiations. During the televised opening of the meeting, Putin thanked the United Arab Emirates for hosting the talks and said he wanted to review the preparations with the Russian representatives. Most of the meeting took place behind closed doors, with the Kremlin releasing only the opening portion.
The Abu Dhabi meeting will be the first round of US-mediated trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since February. The previous talks took place before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran, which subsequently affected diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict. Washington is now seeking progress towards ending the war before winter intensifies conditions across Ukraine.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that the November 10–11 discussions would address post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and possible steps towards ending the conflict. Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington, according to a senior US official cited by Reuters.
Before the Abu Dhabi meeting, American negotiators are also expected to hold working-level discussions in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union and NATO. The discussions are intended to address security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe's future security framework and economic support for the country's reconstruction. However, Russia and Ukraine remain divided over the terms of a potential peace agreement, making a breakthrough uncertain.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region during the early hours of November 7. Ukrainian officials reported damage to energy facilities, transport infrastructure, residential buildings and other properties. The attack also damaged the Northern Bridge, a major crossing over the Dnipro River connecting parts of the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the bridge had sustained damage and was closed to traffic in both directions while specialists assessed its condition. The crossing is an important transport route for the city, and its closure added to the disruption caused by the overnight strikes. Klitschko also described the situation involving electricity, heating and water supplies in Kyiv as extremely difficult.
Regional governor Tymur Tkachenko reported that energy facilities in at least three districts of the Kyiv region had been hit. Ukrainian authorities also reported damage to infrastructure in the neighbouring Zhytomyr region, raising concerns about electricity supplies as temperatures begin to fall ahead of winter.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the overnight attacks killed one person and wounded eight others, including a child. Several residential and non-residential buildings were also damaged. Emergency services and local authorities continued assessing the impact of the strikes.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted facilities in Ukraine's military-industrial sector, along with energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kyiv. The ministry claimed that the Northern Bridge was being used to transport weapons, military equipment and vehicles for Ukrainian armed forces. It also identified the Meridian plant in Kyiv as a target, claiming that the facility produces Flamingo cruise missiles.
The Russian ministry further reported damage to a power plant, an electricity substation and a munitions manufacturing facility in the Kyiv region. It also said Russian forces struck an electricity substation in the Zhytomyr region and a cargo vessel in the Black Sea that Moscow claimed was transporting military equipment and dual-use goods to Ukraine. These specific claims about military targets have not been independently verified.
The latest attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Friday that Russia was preparing further strikes against the country's energy and civilian infrastructure. He renewed calls for additional Patriot air defence interceptors, stressing the importance of protecting power grids, transformers and other critical facilities before the winter months.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Damage to power generation facilities, electricity substations and distribution networks has created recurring challenges for Ukrainian authorities, particularly during periods of colder weather.
The latest developments have placed the upcoming Abu Dhabi negotiations against a difficult military and diplomatic backdrop. While Washington is seeking progress towards a settlement, Russia's continued attacks and the unresolved disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv over territorial issues, security arrangements and the terms of a potential agreement remain major obstacles.
The November 10–11 meeting will provide an opportunity for Russia, Ukraine and the United States to resume direct discussions after months without trilateral negotiations. However, whether the talks can produce meaningful progress towards a ceasefire or a broader peace agreement remains uncertain.
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