Zelenskyy Hopes Abu Dhabi Talks Will Open Path to a Leaders' Meeting With Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he hopes upcoming United States-mediated talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi will lead to a three-way meeting of leaders that includes Russian President Vladimir Putin. He spoke in Berlin on Tuesday alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The adviser-level talks are set for November 10 and 11. Zelenskyy told reporters: '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.'

Asked about the Abu Dhabi talks, Merz said it was important that Russia finally and seriously engages in negotiations about a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement. 'I do not see that happening so far,' the chancellor said.

Zelenskyy's visit to Berlin was not announced in advance for security reasons. On landing, he said on social media that diplomatic coordination, strengthening air defences and supporting Ukraine's energy sector would top the agenda.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US 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, the state news agency TASS reported.

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

Putin and Zelenskyy have had no direct contact since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and their representatives have held only a handful of rounds of talks.

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.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine needs an additional 70 billion euros (77.5 billion dollars) from European countries next year.

US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin may also 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.