The Ukrainian President visits the Federal Chancellor. The meeting is also likely to discuss further military and financial support for Ukraine.
Berlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is coming to Berlin today ahead of new talks between Russia and Ukraine about an end to the war. “He will be with me again at lunchtime,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in a speech at the IHK Berlin. The visit had not been announced beforehand for security reasons.
Shortly before the arrival, US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced a new round of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US on Tuesday and Wednesday next week in Abu Dhabi. It should take place at the level of the advisors to the heads of state and government. “The discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and the next steps towards peace,” he said.
In addition, according to Witkoff, US envoys are scheduled to meet with representatives from Germany, France, Great Britain, NATO and the EU this week. The talks in Brussels will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe's post-war security order and reconstruction.
The Europeans insist on being involved in the negotiations. On the German side, they are assuming a European presence in Abu Dhabi, even if, as things stand, they are probably not at the table there.
The talks in Abu Dhabi will be followed by three important summit meetings: On the sidelines of the APEC economic summit (November 18th and 19th) in Shenzen, China, the presidents of the USA, China and Russia - Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin - may meet for a three-way summit.
China is Russia's main supporter in the Ukraine war. Western leaders say Putin would not be able to continue his war without Chinese help.
At around the same time, a summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” is planned in Berlin, which includes around 35 states that support Ukraine. This will involve further help for the country, especially in order to be able to hold its own against Russia in the winter.
The G20 summit will take place in Florida from December 13th to 15th. The exciting question: Will the Russian president take part again for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine? And if so, will host Trump also invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky?
The conversation between Merz and Zelensky is also likely to be about further military and financial support for Ukraine. From a military point of view, Ukraine primarily needs air defense missiles that can fend off Russia's dangerous ballistic missiles.
The best means are the US Patriots, who are also present in numerous other countries, but are difficult to dispense with. The Bundeswehr has already given up all the Patriot systems that it can do without without endangering its own air defense.
According to Zelenskyj, Ukraine needs an additional 70 billion euros from the Europeans for the coming year. He mentioned this amount at the last EU summit in October. How to raise the money will be the topic of the three EU summits scheduled for this year. The main focus will be on the EU's medium-term financial planning.
