OMM Newsroom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held detailed talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of a Nov. 10-11 trilateral summit in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war, Anadolu Agency reported.
The conversation lasted an hour and a half and focused on preparations for the Russia-Ukraine-US summit, Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on “X” late Wednesday.
Separately, representatives of the US, Ukraine, the EU, France, the UK, Germany, NATO, the World Bank and the global business community held a substantive meeting in Brussels on post-war recovery, he said.
“There will be another meeting in Brussels tomorrow on security guarantees for Ukraine. The negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible,” Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine was ready to take the necessary steps and had presented proposals to the US side.
Further air defence support for Ukraine was an important priority under discussion, he said. Kyiv needs interceptors for “Patriot” systems to protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks, and must continue work on each bilateral track with the US, Zelenskyy added.
“This applies to the Drone Deal format in particular. Ukraine is grateful to the United States for its support for Ukraine’s independence, our people, and diplomatic efforts. Peace has no alternative, and postwar security guarantees must be truly cast-iron,” he said.
Zelenskyy made the remarks as he concluded a two-day visit to Germany. In Berlin, he held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius.
Earlier this week, Witkoff said Washington would mediate working-level Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11. The talks would address “post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace,” he said.
Russia and Ukraine last held US-mediated peace negotiations earlier this year, with three rounds on Jan. 23-24, Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 17-18. The first two took place in Abu Dhabi, while the third was held in Geneva.
