Zelenskyy discusses Abu Dhabi summit with US envoys Witkoff, Kushner

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with US envoys on Wednesday ahead of a Nov. 10-11 summit in Abu Dhabi, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.

Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on the US social media platform X that the call lasted an hour and a half and covered preparations for the Russia-Ukraine-US meeting.

He also said a separate session in Brussels brought together representatives from the US, Ukraine, the European Union, France, Britain, Germany, NATO, the World Bank and the global business community to discuss post-war recovery.

Another Brussels meeting, on security guarantees for Ukraine, is scheduled for Thursday, Zelenskyy said, urging negotiators to speed up efforts to end the fighting.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has submitted proposals to the American side and is ready to take the steps needed for a deal.

He identified air defense as a priority and said Kyiv needs interceptors for Patriot systems to protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine must keep working on its bilateral tracks with Washington, including the Drone Deal framework.

"Peace has no alternative," Zelenskyy said in his statement.

His remarks came as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Germany, where he met Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Boris Pistorius in Berlin.

Earlier this week, Witkoff announced that Washington would mediate working-level talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11, covering post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace.

Russia and Ukraine last held US-mediated peace negotiations earlier this year, with three rounds on Jan. 23-24, Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 17-18, according to the source's background.

The first two rounds were held in Abu Dhabi and the third in Geneva.