Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that military successes on the battlefield are strengthening Ukraine's negotiating position as trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia began in Abu Dhabi.
Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation had arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the November 10-11 negotiations, which are expected to address principles for ending the war in Ukraine and the broader architecture of European security.
"Right now in Abu Dhabi, our team will be proposing steps toward de-escalation at the meetings," Zelensky said. "There must be an understanding of how to organize a trilateral format at the level of leaders to genuinely and honestly end this war."
The Ukrainian president emphasized that Ukrainian forces are inflicting record losses on Russian military personnel and effectively striking targets on Russian territory. "Ukrainian military operations are truly strengthening Ukraine's negotiating position: each task" completed on the battlefield contributes to this advantage, he said.
Zelensky has repeatedly said the most complex issues can only be resolved through direct talks between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. leadership. However, Moscow has insisted that direct negotiations between Zelensky and Putin can only occur in Moscow—a condition Zelensky has rejected.
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Andriy Melnyk clarified Zelensky's position on meeting venues during a UN Security Council meeting on November 9. Melnyk said Zelensky is prepared to meet Putin anywhere in the world except Moscow, including Florida during the G20 summit in December or even Antarctica. "The President of Ukraine is ready to meet with Putin at the first opportunity – whether in Florida in December, on the sidelines of the G20, or in any other corner of the world; if necessary, even in Antarctica, anywhere, just not in Moscow," Melnyk said.
Melnyk emphasized that while the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi represent an important step, a political breakthrough requires a summit at the highest level between the two leaders. He accused Russia of cynical maneuvers and reiterated that Ukraine remains fully committed to seeking peace despite Russian aggression.
According to Ukrainian officials, the first round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi concluded on November 10, with negotiations scheduled to resume the morning of November 11. During the initial round, the parties discussed security guarantees, Russian demands, and post-war reconstruction issues.
American, Ukrainian, and European officials met on the morning of November 10 ahead of the scheduled Ukraine-Russia negotiations. U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff briefed participants on the results of that meeting.
President Zelensky held a brief discussion with the Ukrainian delegation regarding the progress of the Abu Dhabi talks. Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn indicated that Zelensky plans to discuss the negotiations' results in greater detail at a later time.