UAE President’s Moscow visit features unexpected GRU chief at talks; Kremlin calls presence ‘precautionary.’
Ukraine off Agenda
Dmitrij Pieskov clarified that discussions during UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Moscow visit focused solely on bilateral relations, which he described as having “very broad character.” He denied that Ukraine was discussed or that the planned February Russian-American-Ukrainian consultative initiative was on the agenda.
Moscow: Talks with Zelensky Only in Russia
Pieskov rejected speculation about potential talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenski occurring anywhere other than Moscow. He emphasized that hypothetical considerations were inappropriate, stating Russia insists on Moscow as the sole venue for any such meeting.
Kremlin Declares Readiness for Meeting
Advisor Yuri Ushakov confirmed Russia’s standing invitation for Zelenski remains valid, asserting Moscow never rejects direct contact and is prepared to ensure security and appropriate working conditions. However, he noted Zelenski has not responded to the renewed Moscow invitation, stressing previous talks in Turkey and the UAE were fundamentally different in nature.
