Unannounced trip to Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz disclosed during a speech on Tuesday morning that Zelensky would be in the German capital that day, around midday. The visit had not been made public beforehand for security reasons (Selenskyj in Berlin: Friedrich Merz begrüßt Wolodymyr Selenskyj im Kanzleramt – ZEIT ONLINE) (Мерц повідомив, що Зеленський прибуде до Берліна 3 листопада – Українська правда). Zelensky later confirmed on social media that he had arrived in Berlin with his team (Зеленский прибыл в Берлин для встречи с Мерцом и президентом Германии – NV) (Зеленський з командою прибув у Берлін – Українська правда). He was received with military honours at the Chancellery, and Merz said the Ukrainian leader would meet him again before lunch.

Agenda

According to Zelensky, he also planned to meet Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Julia Klöckner during the trip. He said he would take part in this year's Berlin Security Conference. In his words, the priorities were diplomatic coordination, reinforcing air defence and supporting Ukraine's energy sector. The air defence and energy protection requests were echoed in coverage of the meeting itself.

Separately, Der Spiegel reported that Zelensky wanted to discuss Germany's role in the peace process (Friedrich Merz empfängt Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Berlin – DER SPIEGEL).

Diplomatic backdrop

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said a meeting between the American team and representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO would take place in Brussels this week, with security guarantees for Ukraine on the agenda. NATO has confirmed the meeting. Witkoff also said trilateral talks on ending the war would be held next week in the United Arab Emirates capital.

Zelensky said earlier that, after European leaders spoke with the Kremlin leader, there was a sense that Russia was serious about sending negotiating teams to Abu Dhabi.

What comes next

The Berlin talks are expected to run alongside preparations for the Brussels consultations and the planned trilateral round. Details of the Merz-Zelensky agenda beyond the air defence and energy topics have not been released (Prezydent Ukrainy Wołodymyr Zełenski niespodziewanie w Berlinie – Deutsche Welle).

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