In brief: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov praised General Alexus Grynkewich’s contribution to the Abu Dhabi talks while warning against European participation in future negotiations. Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander in Europe, attended in his US military capacity. The comments came as Washington sought a broader negotiating format and prepared further talks with Vladimir Putin.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov praised NATO’s top military commander in Europe on Thursday, Nov. 12, saying General Alexus Grynkewich’s participation had strengthened discussions during peace talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
Ryabkov told Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT that Grynkewich’s presence added professionalism to the discussions. He also praised the work of Russia’s military representatives at the meetings.
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Grynkewich holds two positions: NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe and commander of US European Command.
NATO officials told Euronews that he attended in his American military capacity to advise US leaders supporting President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war, the outlet reported.
The distinction matters because Moscow continues to oppose expanding the negotiating format to include European representatives, even while welcoming the contribution of an American general who also holds NATO’s senior military post.
Ryabkov sees progress but rejects talk of restored trust
Ryabkov, who participated in Russia’s delegation at the Tuesday and Wednesday negotiations, also credited the Trump administration with showing momentum in its search for a settlement.
He said practical arrangements could be developed if the parties demonstrated sufficient political will, maintained realistic expectations, and avoided uncontrolled escalation.
However, he cautioned against interpreting the renewed contacts as a restoration of trust.
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“It is wrong to talk about restoring trust between the sides now,” Ryabkov said, according to Russian state outlet Interfax.
He separately described the discussions as progress while warning that previous negotiating efforts had suffered reversals.
The Russian diplomat said this round focused heavily on developing a lasting security framework for Europe and the area affected by the war.
Moscow warns against bringing Europe into negotiations
Despite his positive assessment of Grynkewich’s contribution, Ryabkov argued that adding European representatives could undermine the process.
Their involvement could cause a rollback and derail efforts that had produced some positive results, he said.
Ryabkov claimed European governments rejected Russia’s negotiating positions and were also hostile to ideas advanced by Washington. Those were his characterizations of the European position.
European representatives were present in Abu Dhabi but held separate consultations with Ukraine and the US, rather than joining the main negotiations with Russia.
The consultations involved Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission.
US envoy Jared Kushner has said Washington wants to move toward a broader negotiating format that includes European participants.
European governments have insisted that discussions affecting the continent’s security must involve them. Ukraine has also argued that ending the war must come first, before negotiations on a wider European security framework.
NATO says Ukraine must decide its territorial future
NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander Europe, John Stringer, expressed caution about Moscow’s intentions in an interview with Euronews on Wednesday.
He said there was little evidence that Putin had abandoned his maximalist demands and emphasized that Ukraine alone should determine the future of its sovereign territory.
Territory remains the central obstacle following the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
The delegations gave different assessments of progress: Ukrainian delegation leader Rustem Umerov highlighted advances on security and economic recovery, while Kushner acknowledged that territorial disputes remained the hardest issue.
The sides nevertheless agreed to prepare a large-scale prisoner exchange, with its final size still being negotiated when the talks concluded.
US envoys prepare further meetings with Putin and Zelensky
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were scheduled to meet Putin in Moscow on Thursday, before traveling to Dublin for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky, who arrived in Dublin on Wednesday, said the Americans were taking concrete proposals to Putin.
He again rejected pressure to surrender Donbas and said any settlement required credible American security guarantees.
Zelensky also said Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi lacked authority to answer proposals for halting attacks on energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and targets at sea, leaving those questions for the envoys to raise directly with Putin.
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