Zelenskyy Holds Lengthy Call With Witkoff and Kushner Ahead of Abu Dhabi Talks
Ukraine's president said he discussed preparations for trilateral negotiations and air defence needs in a 90-minute phone call with two US envoys.
By Lorenzo Evans ·
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a phone call on 4 November with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, special envoys of US President Donald Trump, describing the conversation as very detailed and lasting an hour and a half.
Zelenskyy said the sides are preparing a trilateral format at the team level bringing together Ukraine, the United States and Russia, set to take place in less than a week. Witkoff has said those trilateral talks will be held on 10 and 11 November in the capital of the United Arab Emirates and will focus on further steps towards peace.
The Ukrainian leader also pointed to a substantive meeting held in Brussels on 4 November that gathered the Ukrainian and US teams, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, NATO, the World Bank and representatives of the global business community. The talks there centred on Ukraine's post-war recovery.
A further meeting is scheduled in Brussels on 5 November, this time dedicated to security guarantees for Ukraine. Rustem Umierov, Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, has spoken about the Brussels meetings concerning the country's recovery and funding for 2027.
"The negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps," Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine's proposals are clear and have already been handed to the American side.
Air defence was also on the agenda of the call with Witkoff and Kushner. Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine's need for interceptors for Patriot systems to protect lives from Russian attacks.
He said work must continue on each of the bilateral tracks with the United States, pointing in particular to the Drone Deal format between the two countries.
"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.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
