Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that peace talks with Russia could take place as early as November 10, with a U.S. team expected to lead the summit in Abu Dhabi. This would mark the first face-to-face negotiations since the American president lifted sanctions on Moscow.
Zelensky stated that the meeting, initially scheduled for the end of November, might occur sooner. Kyiv had proposed talks for the upcoming Sunday but agreed to wait until after the U.S. midterm elections. The Ukrainian leader expressed optimism for progress and readiness to discuss even sensitive issues to facilitate negotiations.
However, Zelensky urged the U.S. president, who has accused him of obstructing a deal, to alter his approach toward Vladimir Putin and acknowledge Russia as the aggressor. Speaking from Kyiv, Zelensky affirmed, "We are ready to speak, we are ready for negotiations, any kind of format, we are even ready to speak about any kind of topics, sensitive topics for us." He acknowledged that discussing certain subjects might be perceived as unfair to Ukraine but stated he does not want his country to be seen as hindering the peace process.
Zelensky suggested that the outcome of the conflict, whether moving towards peace or further escalation, depends on decisions made by other countries and their leaders. He warned, "If the United States, our strong partner, understands that Putin's goal is to occupy us and to destroy us, they can't be on Putin's side."
Prospects for a significant breakthrough remain uncertain, exacerbated by deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv. Zelensky accused the U.S. of disrupting planned talks in Brussels by inviting a Ukrainian delegation, only to postpone the meeting to focus on Middle East developments. He thanked Washington for its willingness to organize a trilateral meeting but cautioned that prioritizing the Middle East would impede efforts to end Russia's war. The Ukrainian president emphasized that securing a ceasefire requires sustained pressure, consistent meetings, and timely decisions, rather than pauses in diplomatic efforts.
In a separate briefing, Zelensky addressed the U.S. president's calls for him to step down. He stated he remained calm about personal criticism and acknowledged the U.S. president's right to express his views but felt compelled to respond to comments concerning Ukraine due to his duty to defend his nation. Zelensky highlighted that shortages of anti-ballistic missiles, ongoing attacks, and issues with diesel supplies or power systems left little room for discreet diplomacy, necessitating open communication to ensure urgent problems are recognized and resolved.
"There's a lot of pressure on Ukraine at this moment, of course, and I have to be louder and I will be," Zelensky stated. He revealed he had not spoken directly with the U.S. president since remarks made at the White House the previous week, where the president suggested Russia had behaved acceptably towards Ukraine and had done little wrong. This statement followed an attack in Kharkiv that killed a one-year-old girl and her mother.
Zelensky contrasted the U.S. president's stated desire to end the war with his warm approach towards Putin, insisting that Washington must maintain its focus for negotiations to yield results.