Zelensky hopes for talks with Russia and US in Abu Dhabi – Lavrov heads to G20 meeting
The trilateral talks could take place between Nov. 6 and 10, but no date is set. Russia's foreign minister is flying to the G20 meeting in Atlanta despite US sanctions.
Archive image · Photo: Le Commissaire / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects new trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi in mid-November. "I hope... between Nov. 6 and 10," he said on Wednesday, according to the Kyiv Independent. He expects Washington to confirm a date around Nov. 4, after the US midterm elections. The venue could still change depending on the situation in the Middle East. The Kremlin has not confirmed a timeline and continues to demand that Kyiv cede the Donbas.
According to Zelensky, the agenda includes an energy and maritime ceasefire, prisoner exchanges and the return of abducted Ukrainian children. Territorial issues can only be decided by leaders, he said. One or two rounds of technical talks could lead to a summit with Trump and Putin. The humanitarian ceasefire in occupied Oleshky held for a second day on Wednesday. The Netherlands pledged 500 million euros in military aid to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is travelling to the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta on Oct. 30–31. Lavrov has been under US sanctions since 2022. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the delegation would "promote Russian ideas, aimed at strengthening the foundations of a multipolar world." She also acknowledged: "Not everyone in Washington is pleased with the planned visit of the Russian delegation."