+++ News in the Ukraine War +++: USA plans talks with Russia and Ukraine

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has called on European partners to provide further help for Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia. Germany is continuing its support unchanged, he said in a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Berlin. “But one thing is also clear: all Europeans have responsibility, not just the Germans.”

Merz said he has invited Ukraine supporters united in the Coalition of the Willing to a meeting on November 19th. He announced that a large number of heads of state and government would come to Berlin. “We will make arrangements for 2027 to determine the extent to which we will continue to help.” The main focus will be on military support.

For 2026, NATO has agreed on military support for Ukraine worth 70 billion euros, said Merz. “We must also ensure that all partners meet this obligation.” Germany is providing help because it is directly affected by the war in Ukraine. “The outcome of this war will shape European security for a long time.” (dpa)

Germany is supporting Ukraine with additional aid before the difficult winter. “We will continue our help until this war is over,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.

Merz emphasized several times that Germany was helping Ukraine in its own interest. “The outcome of this war will shape European security for a long time,” he said. According to dpa information, the additional winter aid will amount to 200 million euros, including 100 million in the budget of the Foreign Office and 100 million as part of development policy.

Zelenskyj had come to Berlin ahead of new talks about an end to the war. Shortly before the arrival, US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced a new round of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US on Tuesday and Wednesday next week in Abu Dhabi.

The Green Party budget politician Jamila Schäfer called on the federal government to use financial leeway for aid to Ukraine. “We have given the federal government significantly more financial options to alleviate the suffering of the people in Ukraine,” she explained.

Humanitarian support for Ukraine has been cut in recent years, while Putin has massively intensified his attacks on civilian targets. “In view of the targeted attacks on the energy supply, it is at least a small ray of hope that additional funds should be made available,” said Schäfer. (dpa)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not invite Vladimir Putin to Kyiv. “It makes no sense because he won’t come,” Zelensky said after a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Giving out an invitation that is not accepted is destructive. “In the same way, it is destructive if I am invited to Moscow,” Zelensky added. Zelensky is also skeptical about a telephone conversation with the Russian president. He would only use this as a reason not to allow any more conversations. “It would be a completely official, dry phone call in which I would have to listen to another historical lecture from the head of state of the Russian Federation.” Concrete steps to end the war will not be discussed. (rtr)

At the start of his visit to Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for support in his country's air defense and energy supply. These two topics are “the priorities of today’s talks” in Berlin, Zelenskyj wrote on Tuesday after his arrival in Berlin in the short message service X. “Diplomatic coordination” is required here.

“We all have an interest in security, stability and protecting the rules-based international order,” the Ukrainian president wrote. “We must now work together to translate these principles into concrete decisions and actions.” Zelensky thanked Germany “for its willingness to support our efforts to protect lives.” Both countries are linked by “very substantial cooperation”.

Zelenskyj spoke of “important meetings” that were now coming up. His conversation with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), planned for lunchtime, will also be about preparing for a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Berlin the week after next. These are countries that support Ukraine in the war against Russia. (afp)

The death toll from a Russian airstrike on a school used as an aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine has risen to at least 31. Five more people were injured in the attack in the village of Komyshuwacha in the Zaporizhia region near the front on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday. It is feared that people are still buried under the rubble. According to the acting head of the Zaporizhia regional military administration, Mykhailo Semykin, 50 people are still missing.

According to rescue workers, the victims included two helpers and four police officers. They were killed in a second wave of attacks after Russian forces dropped bombs again shortly after the first strike. Zelensky said that Russian troops initially dropped bombs on the school, which was used as a refuge and for the weekly distribution of relief supplies. "The Russians struck first, just as the people were arriving - with some bombs," he said. "Then there was a second strike - more bombs, this time on the shelter. A dastardly terrorist attack." Classes at school were suspended because of the proximity to the front in the war that lasted four and a half years. However, the Russian armed forces knew full well that the remaining residents gathered there every week to pick up aid packages. (rtr)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is coming to Berlin today ahead of new talks between Russia and Ukraine about an end to the war. “He will be with me again at lunchtime,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in a speech at the IHK Berlin. The visit had not been announced beforehand for security reasons. (dpa)

The US wants to bring together delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10th and 11th for talks on ending the war. This should involve security agreements for the post-war period, de-escalation and humanitarian measures, said a high-ranking US government official on Monday.

For the USA, negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to take part in the negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a new round of tripartite consultations after meeting with Witkoff two weeks ago in St. Petersburg. According to the government official, US envoys are meeting in Brussels this week with representatives from France, Germany, Great Britain, the EU and NATO. (rtr)

At least 26 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on the Ukrainian village of Komyshuwacha in the Zaporizhzhia region on Monday. This “absolutely terrible attack” happened while distributing humanitarian aid at a school, Zelensky said. A search is being carried out in the rubble for further victims; at least five people have been injured. According to local authorities, 27 people were still missing.

Zelenskyj accused the attack of a targeted bombing. “Russia could not have failed to notice that the residents remaining in Komyshuwacha receive humanitarian aid there every week.” Zelensky spoke of a “devious terrorist attack”.

Komyshuwacha is located about 25 kilometers east of Zaporizhzhia and is a good dozen kilometers from the front line. The region has been the target of heavy Russian air strikes for months. (dpa)

According to Zelensky, the hacking of the Russian air strike warning system was a Ukrainian counterattack in the same coin. “We are only responding to their attacks,” Zelensky told US broadcaster PBS. "They attacked our system. It was a cyberattack," he said. Of course Ukraine resisted this. The warning apps of the two warring parties inform their citizens about, among other things, impending air strikes. Russia repeatedly attacks targets with cyber attacks in order to harm the civilian population, Zelenskyj continued.

Late on Sunday evening, the Ukrainian app “Air Alert” was hacked, whereupon citizens received, among other things, fake warnings about alleged nuclear attacks on their smartphones. A few hours later, early on Monday morning, the Russian Civil Defense app was hacked and also sent false warning messages. (dpa)

According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 60 people were injured in a Russian attack on a medical facility in Kharkiv. The governor of the eastern Ukrainian region, Oleh Synjehubow, wrote this on the Telegram platform. 226 patients would have to be transferred to other facilities. According to authorities, around 1,000 windows in the hospital building and surrounding houses were damaged due to the detonations.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov had warned the night before that Russia was attacking the city with ballistic missiles and glide bombs. Kharkiv is Ukraine's second largest city after Kyiv and is close to the Russian border and the front line.

Russia also attacked Ukrainian energy facilities and port infrastructure. The Interfax news agency reported that facilities were hit in the western Vinnytsia region as well as in the eastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. In addition, port infrastructure in the southern Black Sea region of Odessa and ships used for military purposes were attacked. (dpa/rtr/tat)

According to local authorities, an oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia. Two employees were injured, said the region's governor, Mikhail Yevrayev. A fire broke out on the premises. Yaroslavl is located about 250 kilometers northeast of Moscow. (rtr)

After a warning about a threat in their own airspace, the Latvian armed forces gave the all-clear on Tuesday night. The military said the object was believed to have fallen on Latvian soil ‌in an area ‌near the Russian border. The army had previously alerted the population. "Get to safety! There is a threat in Latvian airspace," said a message on the short message service X.

The residents of two eastern regions were asked to seek shelter indoors. NATO fighter jets have been deployed for airspace surveillance. Ukrainian military drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during attacks on Russian oil ports in the Baltic Sea. Some of the drones missed their targets and triggered alarms in neighboring countries. (rtr)