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Zelenskyy Hopes Abu Dhabi Talks Open Path to Putin Meeting — AI-generated representative image of a diplomatic meeting room in Abu Dhabi ahead of US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Editorial Team

US-mediated Ukraine-Russia negotiations could lead to a trilateral presidential summit, the Ukrainian leader says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he hopes upcoming United States-mediated talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi will pave the way for a three-way meeting of leaders that would include Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said the adviser-level talks, scheduled for November 10 and 11, form part of a broader diplomatic effort to end the war.

The planned negotiations represent one of the most significant diplomatic openings since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin and Zelenskyy have had no direct contact throughout the conflict, and their representatives have held only a handful of rounds of talks.

The prospect of a leaders' summit carries major implications for the war's trajectory, Europe's security architecture, and the financial burden of continued Western support for Ukraine.

Diplomatic Push Gains Momentum

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States on Monday. He said the discussions 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 would attend, led as before by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, according to the state news agency TASS.

Zelenskyy's Berlin visit was not announced in advance for security reasons.
On arrival, he said diplomatic coordination, strengthening air defences and supporting Ukraine's energy sector would top the agenda.
Merz said it was important that Russia finally engages seriously in ceasefire negotiations, adding that he does not see that happening so far.

Recent Cooperation and Europe's Role

The build-up to next week's talks follows one of the most notable displays of cooperation between the warring sides since the invasion. Last week, human rights ombudsmen from Russia and Ukraine oversaw a local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to evacuate residents and deliver aid, in a mission brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.

European governments have insisted on being involved in the negotiations but are unlikely to be at the table in Abu Dhabi. Instead, US envoys are due to meet representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, NATO and the European Union in Brussels this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's post-war security architecture.

The question of European participation remains sensitive, with journalists pressing Zelenskyy and Merz on why European nations will not be present in Abu Dhabi despite being in lockstep with Ukraine.

Financial Strain and Domestic Politics

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine needs an additional 70 billion euros ($77.5 billion) from European countries next year. Successive German governments have pledged full support to Ukraine, financing its defensive efforts and supplying weapons and ammunition.

However, the financial cost of supporting Ukraine has become a pressing domestic issue in Germany and other European countries, where the economy is under pressure and the cost of living weighs heavily on voters. Parties opposed to funding Ukraine, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing Die Linke, have been gaining ground in polls and elections.

What Comes Next

Several summits are planned before the end of the year. US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin may hold three-way talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19.

Around the same time, the Coalition of the Willing, a group of about 35 countries backing Ukraine, is due to meet in Berlin. The Group of 20 (G20) summit follows in Florida from December 13 to 15, where it remains unclear whether Putin will attend for the first time since the invasion.

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