German government assesses possibility of contact between Merz and Putin

Stefan Cornelius, a spokesperson for the German government, has said in Berlin that the likelihood of contact between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has increased following the talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

Source: European Pravda, citing Die Zeit

Quote: "We have now reached an understanding in Abu Dhabi on the broad outlines. This is also being conveyed to the Russian president, and talks can move forward on that basis." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]

Details: The Kremlin previously reported via the state-owned TASS news agency that Putin is open to contacts with the European Union, as well as with Merz.

The German chancellor himself said last Friday that he would not refuse a meeting with Putin if the Russian leader, for example, came to Miami for the G20 summit in December.

US representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff plan to travel to Moscow as early as Thursday, and subsequently meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Dublin.

Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, referred to the negotiations in Abu Dhabi as a good first step.

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in talks on Ukraine, stated that partial agreement has been reached during the negotiations. However, differences remain between the parties on key issues. One of the important topics was the future security order in Europe.

Background:

• During the first round of talks the previous day, the parties discussed security guarantees and Russia's demands, and touched on the issue of Ukraine's post-war future.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the trilateral talks on 10 November were "very productive", but that there is still "a lot of work to be done".

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