Key facts
- Arakhamia said the Ukrainian delegation includes himself, Dmytro Lytvyn, Kyrylo Budanov, Rustem Umerov and Serhii Kyslytsia.
- Arakhamia said the team would discuss Russia's recent attacks, including a deadly strike on a humanitarian aid center in Komyshuvakha.
- Zelensky's communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said Budanov did not say he would lead the delegation, only that he would attend.
- Budanov told CBS News the negotiations are not the last and not final.
- European officials are not expected to attend the Abu Dhabi talks, the report said.
Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov will head Kyiv's delegation at trilateral peace talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi expected on November 10, David Arakhamia told the Kyiv Independent on November 6. Arakhamia, who heads President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary group, spoke after a briefing at the White House.
"Umerov is head of negotiations," Arakhamia said. Asked directly whether Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky's chief of staff, would take the lead, he said: "No, it's Umerov." Arakhamia said the delegation would also include himself, communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, Budanov and Serhii Kyslytsia, first deputy head of the Presidential Office.
The confirmation followed media reports that Budanov would lead the Ukrainian team. Lytvyn told reporters Budanov did not say he would lead the delegation, only that he would attend, and said "No changes so far" when asked to confirm Umerov's role. A senior EU official also told the Kyiv Independent they understood Umerov would be in charge.
Arakhamia said the Ukrainian team would discuss Russia's recent attacks, including a deadly strike on a humanitarian aid center in Komyshuvakha, with the US and Russian delegations. Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Kyiv has supported, while demanding Ukraine cede Donbas.
In an interview with CBS News, Budanov sought to lower expectations: "I will repeat once again, these negotiations are not the last, they are not final." European officials are not expected to attend, the report said, despite Europe providing the bulk of military and financial support to Kyiv.
European, Ukrainian and US representatives met in Brussels on November 5 to coordinate positions, followed by a call between Zelensky and the eight Nordic and Baltic countries on November 6. EU leaders are set to discuss on November 13 how the bloc is represented at peace talks, after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni complained about a lack of unified approach.