BERLIN, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Russia must show it is serious about a ceasefire and peace agreement with Ukraine at talks scheduled for next week in Abu Dhabi, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin.
Merz said that a new round of talks between negotiators from Ukraine, the United States and Russia was “the right step” to help bring fighting to an end and that it was essential that Europe be part of the process.
“But I would also say it is important for Russia to finally engage in serious negotiations on a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement. I have not seen any sign of this so far,” he told reporters.
The meeting in Abu Dhabi, on November 10 and 11 — the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since February — is expected to discuss security guarantees, an “energy ceasefire” and a truce in the Black Sea to guarantee food exports, Zelenskiy said.
Speaking after Ukrainian officials said 33 people had been killed in a Russian strike on a school being used as an aid distribution centre, Zelenskiy said Kyiv was entering the negotiation process “in a normal state on the battlefield”. But he said it was facing serious challenges with air defence.
“We are ready for diplomatic steps, for peace, for communication. But – and I emphasise this again – security guarantees are needed,” he said.
Referring to a possible telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said his expectations were low.
“We understand this game; it’s a dead end. It will be a very formal, dry phone conversation where I will once again listen to a historical lecture from the leader of Russia, instead of seeing concrete steps to actually end the war,” Zelenskiy added.
Merz said any lasting agreement would need to involve European countries, which have so far been largely shut out of efforts led by US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Looking ahead to a December meeting of leaders from the Group of 20 countries in Miami, Merz said Zelenskiy should also be present if Trump invited Putin.
“In my view, it is completely unacceptable for third countries to discuss Ukraine’s future without involving Ukraine itself,” he added.
Merz said Germany, the country currently making the largest contribution to supporting Ukraine, would continue its military support.
“We are doing this in our own interests, in the interests of Europe, and in the interests of a stable political order in Europe,” he said.
(Writing by Matthias Williams, James MackenzieEditing by Gareth Jones)
Comments