Zelenskyy Heads to Abu Dhabi Seeking Path to Putin Talks
WHO:
Al Jazeera - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
Al Jazeera - U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia would send a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, identified as a former culture minister.
Al Jazeera - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy have had no direct contact since Russia’s full-scale invasion; their representatives have held only a handful of rounds of talks.
Al Jazeera - The Coalition of the Willing, described as a group of about 35 countries backing Ukraine, is due to meet in Berlin.
POLITICO.eu - Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s European Union membership cannot be decided by the United States and Russia: “For that we need the support of other countries, and all of those countries are in Europe.”
POLITICO.eu - Merz said that if President Trump invites Putin to the G20 summit, Ukraine must be the first topic discussed and Zelenskyy must be at the table.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy said he hoped U.S.-mediated talks with Russia would open the way to a three-way meeting of leaders, including Putin.
Al Jazeera - The Abu Dhabi adviser-level talks are to address post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace, according to Witkoff.
Al Jazeera - Merz said Russia had not yet engaged seriously in negotiations for a ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement.
Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs an additional 70 billion euros ($77.5 billion) from European countries next year.
POLITICO.eu - Merz criticized the U.S. decision to invite Putin to the G20 summit, saying it risked excluding Ukraine from discussions about its future.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy and Merz met in Berlin; the planned adviser-level talks are in Abu Dhabi.
POLITICO.eu - The European Commission is hosting talks with U.S., Ukrainian and key European representatives on Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and economic future.
WHEN:
Al Jazeera - The Abu Dhabi talks are scheduled for November 10 and 11.
Al Jazeera - The possible Trump-Putin-Xi talks are planned for the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.
Al Jazeera - The G20 summit is scheduled for December 13 to 15 in Florida; the article says it is unclear whether Putin will attend.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy said his Berlin agenda included diplomatic coordination, strengthening air defenses and supporting Ukraine’s energy sector.
POLITICO.eu - Merz said Ukraine should participate in discussions about its own fate and that third countries should not decide it without Ukraine.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - The talks are U.S.-mediated. U.S. envoys are also due to meet representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, NATO and the European Union in Brussels to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe’s post-war security architecture.
Al Jazeera - A local ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky enabled resident evacuations and aid deliveries; the mission was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.
(UPDATED November 4, 2026 01:05 UTC)
Zelenskyy met Merz in Berlin as U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks were announced. Russia will send a delegation to Abu Dhabi to discuss security, de-escalation and peace. Merz insists Ukraine must join decisions about its future, while Zelenskyy seeks European support.