In brief
In Berlin on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hopes United States‑mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 will pave the way for a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who accompanied Zelenskyy, expressed doubt that Russia would seriously engage in ceasefire negotiations. The U.S. special envoy announced a new round of talks aimed at post‑war security, with a Russian delegation confirmed to attend.
On Tuesday in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters he hopes the United States‑mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 will ultimately lead to a three‑way meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said the adviser‑level talks were part of a broader diplomatic push to end the war.
"We are counting on the fact that work in this format and our other diplomatic steps will open the way to a trilateral format at the level of leaders," Zelenskyy said, according to Al Jazeera’s report. The announcement followed his unannounced arrival in Berlin for security reasons, where he briefed on strengthening air defences and supporting Ukraine’s energy sector.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was with Zelenskyy, expressed scepticism about Russia’s willingness to engage. Merz told reporters the Abu Dhabi meeting was "important that Russia finally and seriously engages in negotiations about a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement," but added,
I do not see that happening so far.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks on Monday, saying they would focus on “post‑war security arrangements, de‑escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation, led as before by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, would attend. The state news agency TASS reported the delegation’s arrival.
Al Jazeera noted the cranes of cooperation between the warring sides have been minimal since February 2022, although a recent joint mission between Russian and Ukrainian human‑rights ombudsmen in Oleshky cleared the way for evacuations and aid.
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