World · Europe · 22 mins ago
Zelenskyy seeks one European voice in Ukraine peace talks
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Europe should choose one representative for future peace talks with Russia.
He made the comments in Copenhagen during a visit to Denmark, saying that too many representatives would make negotiations harder.
Ukraine, the US and Russia have held trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on humanitarian issues and security guarantees.
Zelenskyy said a large prisoner exchange, possibly 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500, had been discussed.
The US delegation is due to take the exchange proposal to Russia, while the sides also discussed territory, which Zelenskyy said should be settled by leaders.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine does not trust Putin and called for more pressure on Russia, as well as stronger security guarantees and more air defence support for Ukraine.
He hopes European countries will decide on a single representative before the end of November, and said a possible meeting of the three countries’ leaders was also discussed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Europe should agree on a single representative for future peace talks, arguing that too many participants would make negotiations difficult.
He said he hoped European countries would decide who speaks for them before the end of November.
At talks in Abu Dhabi, Ukrainian, US and Russian delegations discussed a possible large prisoner exchange, with figures of 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500 raised.
Zelenskyy said Russia had raised territorial issues, which he said should be resolved at leaders’ level.
He said discussions also covered de-escalation, energy, the Black Sea, security guarantees and a possible meeting of the Ukrainian, Russian and US presidents.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia also took part in talks in Abu Dhabi.
- What
- Zelenskyy called for Europe to settle on a single voice in future peace talks. The Abu Dhabi talks included discussion of a possible large prisoner exchange.
- When
- Zelenskyy spoke in Copenhagen during a visit to Denmark. The articles were published on November 10 and 11, 2026; he hoped for a decision on Europe’s representative before the end of November.
- Where
- Copenhagen, Denmark, where Zelenskyy spoke to reporters; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where the delegations held talks.
- Why
- Zelenskyy said a single European representative would make it possible to speak effectively in negotiations, as 40 people could not speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukrainian and US negotiators met with national security advisers from Germany, Britain, France and Italy, and representatives of NATO and the European Union.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discussed a possible large prisoner exchange, while Russia raised the territorial issue.
The agenda was expected to include de-escalation in energy and the Black Sea, prisoner exchange and a possible three-way meeting of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
- Possible prisoner swap
- 1,000 for 1,000 or 1,500 for 1,500
- European representative decision
- Zelenskyy hoped for one before the end of November
- Location of talks
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Participants in possible leaders’ meeting
- Ukraine, Russia and the United States
- European countries represented in preparatory meeting
- Germany, Britain, France and Italy
2 sources
What people are saying
Everyone's voice is very important, but 40 people cannot talk to Putin.
We want there to be a unified position of the EU, the USA and Ukraine.
One would like to exchange 1,000 for 1,000, possibly 1,500 for 1,500, a large exchange.
We are asking the aggressor for just one thing: to stop this war, resort to diplomacy and try to resolve everything.