Received a report from our negotiating team. Today was the first day of meetings in Abu Dhabi. First came a meeting with our European and American partners, followed by a trilateral format between our delegation and the American and Russian delegations. I am grateful to all of Ukraine’s partners for their support. The trilateral format was constructive and quite substantive. They had time to discuss the need and possible parameters for humanitarian steps. The release of prisoners is a priority. They spoke in detail about the substance of security guarantees for Ukraine and the foundations for ensuring these guarantees function over the long term. Real tools are needed to block any recurrence of the war. The need for de-escalation steps was also touched upon. I gave our team clear instructions for further dialogue – both in the trilateral format tomorrow and more broadly, over the coming days, with envoys of the U.S. President and representatives of Europe. The main thing is to truly bring peace closer. And on Ukraine’s part, there will be only productive, high-quality, and honest work. I thank the American side for organizing these negotiations and the UAE for providing a reliable platform for them.

I spoke with President of the European Commission Ursula @vonderLeyen. Right now, many of our cities and communities are facing a very difficult situation with power, water, and heating supplies due to Russian strikes. The situation is most difficult in Kyiv, the Dnipro, Sumy, and Donetsk regions, and Kherson. I told Ursula about the challenges, and we agreed that the European Union would activate a special emergency mechanism. This will make it possible to quickly provide Ukraine with funding for what is needed most right now. Our teams are already working on this. We discussed additional energy and humanitarian assistance to prepare for winter, as well as issues related to European integration. Last week, the European Commission published its annual EU Enlargement Package, which gave a positive assessment of Ukraine’s progress. It is important to open all the clusters and begin closing the chapters. Of course, we also discussed diplomacy. In recent days, talks were held in Brussels, where our teams did a good job working on a recovery plan and security guarantees from Europe. Ursula and I also coordinated our positions regarding the meeting in Abu Dhabi. We are doing everything to ensure that the trilateral format delivers results. Thank you, Ursula!

This morning, the Russians attacked Komyshuvakha with an FPV drone, where emergency rescue operations have been underway for seven days following an aerial bomb strike that killed 55 people. Unfortunately, more people may still be under the rubble. Absolute cynicism and brutality. There was also an overnight attack on the Dnipro region – the Russians struck energy infrastructure, leaving more than 600,000 people in Dnipro and the region without power. In the Kharkiv region, the situation is difficult too. There are widespread power outages across the country. In the Zhytomyr region alone, 140 apartment buildings were left without heating following a Russian strike. Repair work is underway in virtually every affected city and community. I thank the energy workers, utility workers, and every repair crew who are literally working 24/7 to restore water, electricity, and heating supplies to people. In total, this past week alone, Russia has launched 115 missiles of various types, nearly 1,900 guided aerial bombs, and more than 3,000 attack drones against our cities and communities. These are combined strikes involving many ballistic missiles. And a significant portion of the missiles were manufactured this year. We constantly provide our partners with information about Russian enterprises involved in ballistic missile production. In October, Ukraine imposed major sanctions packages on the individuals and legal entities involved. It is very important that they be synchronized across Europe and G7 jurisdictions. If the world does not have enough anti-ballistic capabilities to protect Ukrainian skies, then the missiles must be stopped on the production lines. We count on a strong 22nd EU sanctions package. Thank you to all partners who are truly helping.

When we have meetings at the level of the negotiating teams – trilateral, bilateral, doesn’t matter – different sides say that we need time to prepare a ceasefire. They say monitoring is difficult, we need to pull back the weapons, and Ukraine has to make a buffer zone. The ceasefire in Oleshky showed – no. We don’t have to. Warfare is different technologically now. One can monitor by drones. You will have evidence of violations, actual videos. I always said that it all comes down to Putin's political will. As we saw, the decision on the Oleshky ceasefire was made expeditiously. And it worked. I hope that we will find a way to push Putin to peace. We can do it with U.S. mediation. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (3/3)

We fight for freedom and die for freedom. Words are important. Words from the United States – the biggest supporter of freedom – are important. Support is important. If the words against Putin and his aggression are strong, if a support package for Ukraine is strong, Putin will think twice, three times, ten times about whether he wants to attack or maybe this war has been enough for him. I always tried to make this point to the American President, with all due gratitude to him and his team: Putin respects only a strong position. Even from the enemy, but a strong position. We cannot end this war saying good things about him. We see it – the war is in its fifth year now. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (2/3)

The idea of discussing European-Russian security infrastructure is not simple, and it can be dangerous. I was very clear with all our partners: I think that first we have to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Secondly, what the security infrastructure will look like for Ukraine. What security guarantees will Ukraine have? And then, depending on these answers, the sides can discuss the security infrastructure between Europe – or between the EU – and Russia. It’s dangerous when Russia wants to begin these discussions with a new security infrastructure in Europe. By the by, it's even more dangerous for the EU. We are not a member of the EU. We are not a member of NATO either. I am not trying to speak on their behalf. We all live in Europe. We don't want to have “Yalta 2.0.” We don't want to be divided by Russia. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (1/3)

We now have intel that another strike is being prepared – targeting our energy sector, bridges across the Dnipro, and civilian infrastructure. The Air Force and the Armed Forces of Ukraine overall are preparing to protect us. We need interceptor missiles for our Patriots. Every agreement matters, and every day counts when it comes to deliveries. We're asking our partners very strongly: please don't put off deliveries. Please stay safe, given the threat of missile attacks. Glory to Ukraine!

I met with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. I briefed him on the situation regarding Russian shelling of critical infrastructure in virtually all regions of Ukraine. There are numerous strikes on our energy infrastructure every day, and the situation with ballistic missiles is particularly challenging due to the chronic shortage of Patriot interceptors. It is important to find new solutions to help protect lives. We have a substantial contract for the purchase of German-made PAC-2 missiles over the next two years. We are working to accelerate deliveries. This would significantly help Ukrainians get through this winter. More than once, it has been German leadership that has helped protect thousands upon thousands of lives. We agreed that our teams would explore this possibility and other issues we discussed, including IRIS-T and munitions for F-16s. I thank Minister Pistorius, Chancellor Merz, and all of Germany for their unwavering support for our defense. We appreciate every step that helps save lives.

We are not inviting Putin to Kyiv. They came to us without an invitation in 2022. But that’s not why there’s no point in inviting Putin to Kyiv. It’s because he won’t come. The same goes for inviting me to Moscow. What Russia is doing is destructive. It’s simply spitting in the face of the whole world that wants this war to end. That’s why no one will support going to Moscow. As for a phone call, Russia will use it as an excuse to avoid any further meetings. And we understand this game. It leads nowhere. It would just be a very formal, dry phone conversation where I would once again have to listen to a history lecture from the leader of the Russian Federation, rather than hear about real steps to actually end the war. If we want to end the war, we have to meet and take the first step: a ceasefire. From answers to journalists’ questions in Berlin.

Today, my team and I are in Berlin. There will be meetings with the Chancellor and the President of Germany, as well as the President of the Bundestag. I will also take part in this year’s Berlin Security Conference. The key issues are our diplomatic coordination – with important meetings ahead – strengthening our air defense, and supporting our energy sector. These will be the priorities of today’s talks. We all have an interest in security, stability, and protecting the rules-based international order. And we must work together to turn these principles into concrete decisions and actions. We thank Germany for its readiness to support our efforts to protect lives and for our very substantive cooperation!

We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country – primarily targeting energy and logistics. The assumption is basically that tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms, and what is happening here in Ukraine, along with our difficulties with air defense and Patriot missiles, will be overlooked. We need signals from the world to Russia that will make them feel that terror is no good, that it will bring no gains, and that as long as this war continues, their oil will burn, and they will not be able to make money doing business with the world. We must not play games with Russia’s oil or gas revenues. We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this.

Around 120 representatives of the clergy have been killed by the Russians. On purpose, not accidentally, in deliberate attacks on these people, on our churches, and on other religious institutions. Around 800 religious sites were destroyed or damaged. Some of them were one thousand years old, subjected to massive drone and missile attacks – both cruise and ballistic. It’s awful and crazy. And this is not about money. This is about our heritage, history, art, and architecture. You can’t just renovate them. It is very painful for all of us, and of course for our clergy in the first place. From the interview with This Week on Capitol Hill.

We are now preparing for a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and Russia – in the first half of November. President Erdoğan and I discussed the prospects for this format and other possibilities, including ways to involve Türkiye and all of Europe, as well as the possibility of holding meetings here in Türkiye. Strong decisions are needed to bring peace. At every level, Russia must be sent signals that there is no alternative to peace and that support for Ukraine will not diminish. This is all the more important given that a humanitarian operation took place in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, over the past few days. And it clearly demonstrates that de-escalation steps are possible when Russia is the one put in a position where it has to take steps toward de-escalation. I said this during joint statements to the media with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

A strong decision by the U.S. State Department – authorizing Ukraine’s purchase of Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles. Five hundred PAC-3 interceptors is a substantial number, and very soon – this winter – they COULD make for a highly effective defense package. However, it has been stipulated that deliveries may begin ONLY IN A FEW YEARS. We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors. Right now, the Russians are attacking our energy infrastructure every single day. In just these past two weeks of October, there have already been more than 30 Russian strikes on critical parts of our power grid. It is right now, even before the beginning of winter, that Putin has started carrying out his operation to attack the systems that sustain life in our cities and communities. The targets are electricity, heating, water supplies, bridges, and life in our cities in general. We did ask our American partners to provide Ukraine with a winter support package – at a rate of 100 Patriot interceptors per month. Five hundred missiles would be enough to protect our skies over the coming months – precisely when it is so important for Ukraine to be in a strong position in negotiations and for Russia NOT to succeed in breaking life in Ukrainian cities and communities. The United States, our European partners, and other partners around the world have sufficient stocks of PAC-3 interceptors in their warehouses. Providing them to Ukraine right now – in the winter of 2026–2027 – and replenishing our partners’ arsenals LATER, in THE FOLLOWING YEARS, through this production already contracted and paid for by Ukraine and our partners would be the right approach. And it is entirely feasible. We are grateful to President Trump. Importantly, we recently discussed PAC-3 interceptors with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukraine is grateful to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Administration overall for granting this authorization. But we are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or sometime later, but at the very moment the threat is there – when Russia is killing and destroying. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!

A horrific Russian strike on the railway station in Dnipro. The Russians launched a drone attack on a platform where an ordinary commuter train and a scheduled passenger train were standing. Unfortunately, 13 people have been confirmed killed as of now. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Ten more people were injured. All necessary emergency services are working at the scene. Just how many terrorist strikes has Russia carried out against our people since sanctions were lifted on certain Russian oligarchs and the Russian energy sector, rather than de-escalating? This is precisely why Ukraine has always said that just and decisive action by America and Europe is needed in response to Russian escalation – sanctions against Moscow and its war machine must not be eased for as long as this Russian war continues. It is time for new, stronger sanctions steps by the EU, the United States, and the G7. I thank everyone who is ready to help in this way.

Our key shortage right now is Patriot interceptors to take down Russian ballistic missiles. Russia is betting primarily on ballistic missiles in this war, especially with winter approaching. We now need particular help securing anti-ballistic missile interceptors. Europe has these resources, and so do our partners in the United States. It is important that the relevant programs truly work, particularly the PURL initiative, and that the U.S. side does not delay deliveries under the program. We are counting heavily on support for this at every level. Every day of delay means losses and destruction for us, given that Russia’s ballistic missile campaign against our cities and communities continues every single day, nonstop. We need the appropriate deliveries. I said this during a joint press conference with Rob Jetten @MinPres.

I had a great conversation with the UK Prime Minister @AndyBurnham, and we are grateful to Britain for its unwavering, strong, and truly leading support. Today, Britain made a strong decision to provide an additional £10 billion in financial support – £7 billion in economic support over the next three years, and another £3 billion in British export support, primarily for the supply of much-needed weapons that will strengthen our protection of lives. This is on top of the annual support Britain already provides to Ukraine. A truly strong and very timely step – coming right as Russia needs to see and feel that Ukraine will not be left alone to deal with the problems Russia is so eager to escalate. Every step to strengthen Ukraine brings Russia closer to realizing that it must end this war of its own making. Of course, Andy and I also discussed sanctions policy, and Britain will remain principled on this – setting an example that matters globally. I am grateful to Britain, to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his team, and to every person around the world who understands that standing with Ukraine is the right thing to do – that it means being on the right side of history. 🇺🇦🇬🇧

The most important thing today is that Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds we had before the restrictions. The speeds are now where they need to be. The restoration began overnight, and by this morning, speeds were already sufficient. This matters: for our frontline logistics, for defending Ukraine against jet-powered “shaheds.” I thank all Americans and all our partners who took this seriously and truly helped – members of Congress, senators, all the media, the State Department, and the President. Protecting lives matters.

My team and I spoke with President Trump’s envoys – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. We talked about the results of the meetings in Oslo and St. Petersburg, and how we can move diplomacy forward this November. We have an agreement to hold a trilateral meeting – Ukraine, America, and Russia – at the team level. The plan is to meet in the first half of November. We are ready to meet any day – even tomorrow. But it all depends on the Russians. We expected a trilateral meeting this October, too. But it didn’t happen – because the Russians came up with another reason not to meet. Now we all need to focus on making these meetings happen – together with America, Europe, and all our partners. Can they happen without America or without American pressure on Russia? Probably not. That’s why we are really counting on America to keep this a priority at every level. And we need to move from technical-level trilateral talks to a meeting of the leaders – because the key issues can only be settled at that level. From an address at the Hudson Institute. (1/3)