In brief
On November 3, 2026, President Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Merz in Berlin, saying that U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi could pave the way for a leader‑to‑leader meeting with President Putin. Merz was skeptical of progress. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced a new round of talks, and Russia will attend led by former minister Vladimir Medinsky.
On November 3, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin to discuss the United States‑mediated talks in Abu Dhabi that could lead to a three‑way meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy said, “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.” He added that the talks on November 10 and 11 were part of a broader diplomatic push to end the war.
Merz replied that Russia had yet to engage seriously in negotiations, adding, “I do not see that happening so far.” He stressed that it was crucial for Russia to finally and seriously engage about a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks, 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 by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky would attend the Abu Dhabi talks, as reported by TASS.
In recent weeks, human rights ombudsmen from Russia and Ukraine oversaw a local ceasefire in the Russian‑occupied city of Oleshky, a mission brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.
With no direct contact between Putin and Zelenskyy since the war began, the Abu Dhabi talks are seen as a potential first step toward a higher‑level dialogue that could influence the conflict’s future.
