Ukraine’s Zelenskyy hopes Abu Dhabi talks will open path to Putin meeting

What the report says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Berlin that he hopes upcoming US-mediated talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi will help create a direct leaders’ meeting that includes Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussions are scheduled for November 10 and 11, and Zelenskyy described them as part of a wider diplomatic effort to end the war. He made the remarks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose office has been a key European backer of Ukraine.

Merz said Russia has not yet shown serious willingness to negotiate a ceasefire and eventual peace deal. Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin was not announced beforehand for security reasons. On arrival, he said coordination on diplomacy, air defence and support for Ukraine’s energy system would be central topics.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, US envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks and said they would address security arrangements after the war, de-escalation, humanitarian issues and next steps toward peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a Russian delegation would take part, led again by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky. The report also noted that European governments want a role in the wider peace process, even though they are not expected at the Abu Dhabi table.

The article places the diplomacy in the context of continued fighting since Russia’s 2022 invasion and broader questions about future security guarantees, financial support for Ukraine and Europe’s role in any settlement.