Ukraine aims for direct Putin summit after Abu Dhabi talks

The war has entered its fifth year without a direct meeting between the two presidents. That gap may close if upcoming diplomatic efforts in Abu Dhabi succeed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he expects US-mediated talks with Russia to create a path to a direct summit with Vladimir Putin. He made the comments while standing beside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. The two leaders had not announced their meeting in advance for security reasons. Zelenskyy posted the agenda for the visit on X, listing diplomatic coordination, air defense, and energy support as the main topics.

The talks in Abu Dhabi are scheduled for November 10 and 11. They will involve advisers from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. Zelenskyy described these sessions as a necessary step before the leaders themselves can sit down together. The two presidents have not spoken directly since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of negotiations on Monday. He said the discussions would cover post-war security, de-escalation, and humanitarian issues. The Kremlin confirmed that a Russian delegation would attend. Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister, will lead the Russian team.

Chancellor Merz said it is vital for Russia to negotiate seriously on a ceasefire and a peace deal. He noted, however, that he has not yet seen that level of commitment from Moscow. This lack of clarity keeps the process uncertain, even as both sides prepare for the meetings in the United Arab Emirates.

The atmosphere in negotiations has shown rare signs of cooperation recently. Last week, human rights officials from both nations oversaw a local ceasefire in Oleshky. This allowed residents to leave the Russian-occupied city and receive aid. US First Lady Melania Trump helped arrange this mission. Such coordinated actions have been uncommon since the conflict began.

European leaders are working to ensure they have a say in the peace process. US envoys are meeting with representatives from Germany, France, the UK, NATO, and the EU in Brussels this week. They are discussing security guarantees for Ukraine and the continent's future defense structure. European governments have insisted on being part of the final agreement, even if they are not present in Abu Dhabi.

Money remains a central issue. Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs an extra 70 billion euros from European partners next year. Merz acknowledged that Europe's economic situation is getting tougher. Inflation and high living costs are pressing issues for German voters. Political parties like the far-right Alternative for Germany and the left-wing Die Linke are gaining support by opposing further funding for the war.

More summits are planned before the year ends. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Putin may meet during the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. A group of about 35 countries supporting Ukraine, known as the Coalition of the Willing, will gather in Berlin around the same time. The G20 summit follows in Florida from December 13 to 15.