Ukraine, Russia and the United States are set to hold talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing them as a step toward a meeting among national leaders.
Zelenskyy argued that leaders could address central disputes and establish a basis for lasting peace and guaranteed security. He named energy and other critical infrastructure, grain and humanitarian exchanges as priorities for Kyiv.
At a news conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was consulting Germany and other European partners as it developed its positions for the negotiations. The planned round follows Kyiv’s efforts to move from technical discussions toward decisions by national leaders.
Asked about meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said, “We are not inviting Putin to come to Kyiv ... because in 2022 they came to us without an invitation.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the talks would take place in Abu Dhabi. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Putin had not refused talks with Zelenskyy and that the Ukrainian president could travel to Moscow to meet him.
The dates update an earlier timetable from Kyiv. In late October, Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected the meeting by Nov. 10, while Moscow had not set a firm date, as EconoTimes reported in its earlier account of the timetable.
Ukraine had previously described the Abu Dhabi session as a technical step toward talks among leaders. In an Oct. 23 statement, Zelenskyy said delegations had agreed to start technical discussions in early November after a planned October session did not take place. He said those discussions were intended to prepare for leaders to address key issues.
The role of European governments is also disputed. Zelenskyy has said Europe should take part in the broader conversation, while Ushakov said European representatives would not join the trilateral Abu Dhabi round.
The next scheduled step is the Nov. 10-11 talks in Abu Dhabi.
