In brief: President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea of inviting Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Kyiv, recalling Russia’s 2022 invasion and describing invitations to Kyiv or Moscow as destructive gestures. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Nov. 3, he called for substantive face-to-face negotiations. The leaders also discussed security guarantees, Ukraine’s priorities for Abu Dhabi talks and German winter assistance.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea of inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kyiv on Tuesday, Nov. 3, saying Russia had already come to Ukraine without an invitation when it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Zelensky said invitations that neither side would accept were obstructing meaningful diplomacy.
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“We are not inviting Putin to Kyiv. They came to us in 2022 without an invitation,” he said.
Zelensky said there was no point inviting Putin when the Russian leader would not come, likening the proposal to Moscow’s invitation for the Ukrainian president to travel to Russia.
He described such gestures as destructive and disrespectful to countries seeking an end to the war.
Zelensky also questioned whether a telephone conversation would produce progress, warning that Moscow could use it to avoid an in-person meeting. He said he expected another historical lecture from Putin rather than practical steps toward ending the invasion.
Ending the war required personal meetings, negotiations and an initial step toward a ceasefire, he said.
The remarks followed Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov’s claim on Nov. 1 that Putin would answer a call from Zelensky if Kyiv initiated it.
Zelensky has separately expressed readiness to meet Putin in Turkey, while ruling out surrendering the Donbas or recognizing Crimea as Russian.
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Zelensky outlines priorities for Abu Dhabi
At the Berlin press conference, Zelensky said Washington had signaled readiness to discuss security guarantees and a reconstruction package for Ukraine.
He identified a reciprocal halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, security for grain shipments in the Black Sea and more intensive prisoner exchanges among Kyiv’s priorities for the coming negotiations.
Ukraine also wants the return of unlawfully detained civilians and Ukrainian children, alongside preparations for a meeting at leaders’ level with European participation.
The proposals concern subjects Ukraine wants to advance in negotiations; they do not constitute agreed ceasefire terms.
Ukrainian, Russian and US officials are scheduled to hold talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11. US envoy Steve Witkoff has said discussions will address postwar security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and further steps toward peace.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had proposed extending and expanding the localized ceasefire that enabled civilian evacuations from Russian-occupied Oleshky. He contrasted that offer with Moscow’s renewed strikes, saying Russia’s response had been “new attacks, new shelling, new strikes, new killings of our people.”
Referring to the Nov. 2 attack on Komyshuvakha in southern Ukraine, Zelensky said 33 people had been killed, with five rescued and more than 50 still potentially under the rubble. He described the bombing as one of Russia’s deadliest attacks of the war and noted that it had followed the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, despite Kyiv’s proposal to prolong and broaden the pause in fighting.
Merz sets Nov. 19 coalition meeting
Merz said the next Coalition of the Willing meeting would take place in Berlin on Nov. 19, organized with France and the United Kingdom.
The meeting will focus on coordinating further assistance to Ukraine, developing security guarantees after a ceasefire and aligning diplomatic efforts, Ukrainian outlet Suspilne reported.
Merz reaffirmed Germany’s readiness to contribute to those guarantees and said pressure on Russia must continue to encourage genuine negotiations.
“Our message to Russia is clear. It is time to end this war,” he said.
The coalition’s military preparations include a deployment exercise in Poland involving nearly 2,800 personnel on Nov. 9-22. The proposed multinational force would deploy after hostilities end and at Ukraine’s request, helping strengthen its military and deter another Russian invasion.
Germany prepares winter and air defense support
Zelensky also announced a forthcoming German winter support package and said the Berlin discussions included supplies of PAC-2, PAC-3 and IRIS-T air defense missiles.
He thanked Germany for supporting Ukraine’s F-16 fleet and said the two leaders had discussed an additional package for the aircraft, including their role in countering Russian drone attacks.
Merz said Germany was implementing agreements on air defense and energy assistance reached during his October visit to Kyiv.
He also highlighted German businesses’ readiness to participate in Ukraine’s recovery, saying cooperation would be developed further at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin on Nov. 20.
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