The trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine are set to resume on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with security and a ceasefire at the top of the agenda.
The talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, mark the first face-to-face meetings since negotiations stalled in February.
The three sides have said the talks will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian action and the next steps toward peace.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that discussions, as described by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would cover the security of Russia, Ukraine and the wider region, and that Moscow welcomed Washington's position on security guarantees.
Lavrov also explained why Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was added to the delegation, saying Ryabkov handles NATO-related and arms control affairs and has long worked on European security and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe matters.
Earlier on Monday, Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation and head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, announced on Telegram that the Ukrainian negotiating team was heading to the UAE for the talks.
Representatives of European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, as well as officials from NATO and the European Commission, will also be present in Abu Dhabi, he said.
Umerov added that Ukraine plans to hold separate coordination meetings with its European partners.
"Our goal is a long-term and sustainable peace, guaranteed security for Ukraine, and real opportunities for Ukraine's post-war recovery," he said.
The European Union will participate in the negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday.
Von der Leyen said she had a "good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the talks, adding that the EU would be present alongside its partners.
Trilateral talks set to resume in Abu Dhabi with security, ceasefire focus
A Chinese envoy on Monday called for preserving basic humanitarian protections, easing tensions and seizing a window for peace talks as the UN Security Council voiced concern over rising civilian casualties and worsening winter humanitarian risks in Ukraine.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the Ukraine crisis was reaching a critical juncture for a negotiated settlement, as international calls for peace and talks grew stronger. Recent exchanges among key stakeholders had sent positive signals, he said, and China supported efforts toward peace, urging all parties to work with one another, sustain the positive momentum and advance an early political settlement.
Sun said parties to the conflict had recently expressed views on a political resolution, while the international community had made extensive diplomatic efforts to encourage peace and negotiations. Russia, Ukraine and the United States are set to hold another round of trilateral talks. The parties should demonstrate political will, maintain contact and communication, gradually build consensus and work together toward a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement, he said.
"Conflict and war have no winners. All parties should learn lessons from this crisis, uphold the principle of indivisible security, take each other's legitimate security concerns seriously and address them properly, and pay particular attention to the root causes of the conflict. They should build a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture," said Sun.
Sun said China's position on Ukraine was consistent and that China had always advocated peace talks and a political settlement. China has maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties and actively pursued shuttle diplomacy, working persistently to create conditions for talks and build consensus for peace.
China stands ready to continue working with the international community toward an early ceasefire, an end to hostilities, and lasting peace and stability in the region, he said.
China calls for peace talks to end Ukraine crisis
