Abu Dhabi talks aim to bridge gap for direct Putin-Zelenskyy summit

For Ukrainians, the path to a negotiated end to the conflict now hinges on a two-day meeting in the United Arab Emirates. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that he expects the upcoming US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi to create the conditions for a direct face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders have not spoken directly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskyy framed the scheduled adviser-level discussions as a necessary step toward a trilateral format involving the heads of state.

The diplomatic effort has accelerated over the past week. US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the new round of talks on Monday, outlining an agenda that includes post-war security arrangements, de-escalation measures, and humanitarian efforts. The Kremlin confirmed through spokesman Dmitry Peskov that a Russian delegation led by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky would attend. This follows a rare instance of coordination last week, where human rights ombudsmen from both nations oversaw a local ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky. That mission, which facilitated evacuations and aid delivery, was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.

Zelenskyy’s immediate focus, however, remains on securing resources in Europe. His visit to Berlin on Tuesday was kept secret for security reasons and was not announced until his arrival. There, he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss diplomatic coordination, air defense systems, and energy sector support. Zelenskyy posted the agenda on the social media platform X. Merz stressed the need for Russia to engage seriously in ceasefire negotiations, though he admitted he has not yet seen that level of commitment from Moscow.

The absence of European leaders from the Abu Dhabi table has raised questions about their influence in the final peace deal. Al Jazeera correspondent Dominic Kane noted that while Ukraine and Europe are aligned on goals, European representatives are not expected to be present in the UAE. To address this, US envoys will meet with representatives from Germany, France, the UK, NATO, and the EU in Brussels this week. These meetings aim to define security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe’s post-war security architecture.

Financing remains a central point of contention. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine requires an additional 70 billion euros from European nations next year. Merz acknowledged that Europe’s economic situation is becoming challenging, with the cost of living becoming a serious concern for German voters. This financial pressure is complicating support for the war as it enters its fifth year. Political parties in Germany, including the far-right Alternative for Germany and the left-wing Die Linke, are gaining traction in polls by opposing continued funding for the war effort.

Further high-level summits are scheduled for the coming weeks. US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Putin may hold three-way talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19. The Coalition of the Willing, a group of approximately 35 countries supporting Ukraine, is due to meet in Berlin around the same time. The G20 summit will follow in Florida from December 13 to 15, where it remains to be seen if Putin will attend for the first time since the invasion.