Ukraine’s plan for technical talks with Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10 came as the Kremlin argued that the war should continue, placing diplomacy alongside Moscow’s wartime position.
In an Oct. 29 interview carried by state broadcaster Vesti, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian air defenses were working effectively and that the “special military operation must continue” to protect Russia. Peskov blamed Ukraine for the reported drone attack, an attribution that has not been independently verified.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 613 drones headed toward the Moscow region from 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 to 7 a.m. Oct. 29, Moscow time (5:30 p.m. UTC Oct. 28 to 4 a.m. UTC Oct. 29). He said 231 were destroyed near Moscow and most of the others were neutralized farther away. The drone figures have not been independently verified.
Peskov called the timing strange. The reported drone activity overlapped with the Third Russia–Africa Summit and Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, scheduled in Moscow for Oct. 28–29.
Ukraine’s presidential office said Oct. 28 it was preparing a technical session in Abu Dhabi involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States, with the meeting expected by Nov. 10. The format follows earlier objections by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to talks without Kyiv, as EconoTimes reported previously.
The Associated Press reported that no date had been set and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hoped to hold the meeting between Nov. 6 and 10.
