Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is travelling to Berlin for unannounced talks with German chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of trilateral negotiations scheduled for the following week in Abu Dhabi involving Russia and the United States. According to The Guardian, Merz confirmed the visit during a speech to industry leaders on the morning of 3 November 2026, though reports of Zelenskyy's potential arrival had emerged the previous evening.
The Ukrainian leader's movements are typically kept confidential until the last possible moment for security purposes. Merz remarked on the significance of the meeting, referencing a tense encounter between Zelenskyy and former US president Donald Trump at the White House in the previous year.
He'll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then.
During his address, Merz attributed Germany's decision to substantially accelerate defence spending to the tensions witnessed in the Oval Office during that earlier confrontation.
What we experienced last year … led me to conclude that we must ensure, on our own, that we are capable of defending ourselves in, he stated. He emphasised that this commitment to military readiness was not intended to undermine NATO but rather to strengthen the alliance.
We are making Nato more European so it can remain transatlantic, Merz added.
This visit follows Merz's unannounced trip to Kyiv on 4 October, when he arrived alongside defence manufacturers while Russian forces struck the North Bridge near the railway station. The pattern of high-level diplomatic engagement reflects intensifying coordination between Germany and Ukraine on defence and security matters.
What is happening elsewhere in Europe?
Parliamentary developments are expected across the continent. A second legislative vote on a new government formation is anticipated, though observers predict it will fail again—occurring 51 days after elections concluded. Spain's transport minister Óscar Puente is scheduled to present proposals for reforming high-speed rail operations following the devastating crash in Toledo the previous week, before appearing before a parliamentary committee to answer questions. Poland and Belgium are also expected to generate significant political updates, with Belgium facing continued uncertainty surrounding the stability of Bart De Wever's government.
What happened at Warsaw airport?
Warsaw Modlin airport, the Polish capital's secondary aviation hub located north of the city, was closed following a bomb threat reported on a LOT airline flight arriving from London Heathrow. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX carrying 181 passengers on flight L0286 bound for Warsaw Okęcie, made an unscheduled landing at Modlin after the alert was raised. Security services conducted an inspection of the plane, and the airport remained shut pending further assessment.
What were the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine?
Before departing for Berlin, Zelenskyy condemned overnight Russian military strikes targeting critical infrastructure installations across Ukraine, which he said triggered widespread power disruptions affecting the civilian population. The assault involved 289 drones, 59 cruise missiles and 17 ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian president's account. Beyond infrastructure targets, the strikes damaged civilian facilities, including a hospital in Kharkiv where 73 people sustained injuries.
Zelenskyy reported that rescue operations had been underway since the previous day in Komyshuvakha, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, where the death toll had continued to rise.
Tragically, the death toll has risen. Russia has killed 29 people.
The timing of the attacks coincided with voting day for US congressional elections, which Zelenskyy characterised as deliberately provocative.
It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections. The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped. Ukraine must be helped to defend its skies, otherwise Russia will never stop its missile strikes. It is essential to help build peace honestly and reliably, and America can do that.
The escalation underscores the ongoing intensity of the conflict and the strategic importance of the upcoming Abu Dhabi negotiations, where Zelenskyy will engage with representatives from Russia and the United States to discuss potential pathways toward resolution. Germany's deepening involvement in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities, demonstrated by Merz's commitment to increased military spending and his direct engagement with Zelenskyy, reflects broader European efforts to strengthen Ukraine's position ahead of these critical diplomatic discussions.
