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Russia is considering Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a potential venue for trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, as diplomatic efforts toward a possible settlement to the war continue.
"For now we are talking about Abu Dhabi," Peskov told reporters, adding that no phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump was planned following U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Russia. However, either leader could request a conversation, which could be arranged promptly.
The Kremlin declined to disclose details of Putin’s discussions with Witkoff, with Peskov arguing that mediation in such a complex process required discretion. "Megaphone diplomacy and public discussion of proposals could only be harmful," Peskov stressed.
He also gave a negative response when asked whether Putin had handed Witkoff documents outlining a potential settlement in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has not yet decided whether Putin will attend the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, Florida. Moscow will consider all circumstances before accepting or declining the invitation, Peskov noted.
He also criticized European governments for their approach to relations with Russia, claiming Moscow had heard no constructive statements signaling a willingness to ease tensions. Efforts by some European capitals to better understand the situation, however, were viewed positively.
Peskov credited the U.S. administration with making substantial efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, while accusing European capitals of doing little to advance a settlement and instead encouraging further hostilities.
Separately, Peskov said President Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang did not discuss preparations for a deal on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline during their meeting in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Instead, the two officials focused on broader energy cooperation, which the Kremlin spokesman described as having significant untapped potential.
The proposed pipeline is designed to transport up to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula through Mongolia to China. It would give Moscow another major route to expand gas exports to Asia as Russian energy supplies to Europe have declined since the start of the war in Ukraine.
However, the project has yet to secure a final agreement. Negotiations have faced difficulties over gas pricing, with reports indicating that Beijing and Moscow have different expectations for the cost of supplies.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last week that the project could be discussed during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November, while expressing hope that negotiations on a new gas pipeline would conclude in the near future.
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