WorldPosted at: Nov 3 2026 5:11PM


Zelenskyy visits Berlin for talks with Merz ahead of US-brokered Russia-Ukraine negotiations

Berlin, Nov 3 (UNI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Tuesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a show of European support for Kyiv ahead of a fresh round of US-brokered negotiations between Russia and Ukraine next week.
Merz announced the visit during a speech to business leaders in Berlin, saying he expected to meet Zelenskyy shortly after midday. The trip had been kept under wraps for security reasons.
"He'll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then," Merz said, in an apparent reference to Zelenskyy's contentious meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in February 2025.
Merz said that Europe is required to strengthen its own defence capabilities and take greater responsibility for its security.
"For me, the last impetus was Zelenskyy's visit to the White House in February of last year and the scenes that played out there," Merz told the gathering.
"This is not to call NATO into question. We want to be able to defend ourselves -- so that we do not actually have to defend ourselves," he said, adding that Europe is working to make NATO "more European so that it can remain transatlantic".
The talks in Berlin are expected to focus on continued military and financial assistance to Ukraine as it faces intensified Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Kyiv is seeking additional missiles for air defence systems, including the US-made Patriot, to counter Russian ballistic missile strikes. Germany has already supplied the Patriot systems it says it can spare without compromising its own air defences.
Zelenskyy also outlined Ukraine's funding requirements at an EU summit in October, seeking an additional 70 billion euros ($78 billion) for next year. The issue of financing is expected to feature in discussions among European governments as they consider the bloc's long-term budget.
German media reports said Berlin is also considering an additional 200 million euros ($224 million) in winter assistance to help repair and protect Ukrainian power plants and other civilian infrastructure repeatedly targeted by Russian strikes.
The visit comes as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States would meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss steps towards ending the war, post-war security arrangements and de-escalation.
US envoys are also expected to hold discussions with European and NATO representatives in Brussels this week on security guarantees for Ukraine, reconstruction and Europe's security architecture after the war. European representatives are expected to be present in Abu Dhabi, although they are unlikely to have a direct role in the negotiations.
Germany, under Merz, has emerged as Ukraine's largest supporter as Washington has reduced its direct financial assistance since Trump returned to office last year. The United States continues to provide intelligence to Kyiv and allows other countries to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Berlin deployed around 3,400 additional police officers to secure Zelenskyy's visit and the two-day Berlin Security Conference, which brings together European officials and defence experts, with Russia's war in Ukraine high on the agenda.UNI AAB
Tags: #Zelenskyy visits Berlin for talks with Merz ahead of US-brokered Russia-Ukraine negotiations
More News

US to mediate Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov 10–11:Witkoff

03 Nov 2026 | 7:44 PM

Washington/ Abu Dhabi, Nov 3 (UNI) The United States will mediate fresh working-level peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has announced, as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to bring an end to the ongoing war.

see more..

Democrats eye Senate gains as US midterm elections put Trump's presidency to test

03 Nov 2026 | 7:32 PM

Washington, Nov 3 (UNI) Democrats are hoping to regain control of the US Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, with several closely contested races potentially reshaping Congress and posing a major political challenge to President Donald Trump during the final two years of his second term.

see more..

Bomb threats trigger security alerts at three European airports

03 Nov 2026 | 7:13 PM

Warsaw, Nov 3 (UNI) A series of bomb threats targeting passenger flights triggered security alerts at airports across Europe on Tuesday, prompting emergency inspections, passenger evacuations and temporary airport closures in Spain, Poland and Bulgaria.

see more..

Zelenskyy visits Berlin for talks with Merz ahead of US-brokered Russia-Ukraine negotiations

03 Nov 2026 | 5:11 PM

Berlin, Nov 3 (UNI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Tuesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a show of European support for Kyiv ahead of a fresh round of US-brokered negotiations between Russia and Ukraine next week.

see more..

Iran continues dialogue with Saudi Arabia, seeks regional security framework without Foreign Forces: Araghchi

03 Nov 2026 | 4:51 PM

Tehran, Nov 3 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran remains engaged in dialogue with Saudi Arabia and other regional countries as it pushes for a new regional security framework led by Middle Eastern nations without foreign military involvement.

see more..