Zelensky says Russian delegation claimed to control parts of Donbas still held by Ukraine at Abu Dhabi talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia's delegation at the Abu Dhabi talks exaggerated the extent of their control over Donbas. According to Ukraine's delegation, the Russians insisted they had occupied half of the region, despite evidence showing it was still under Ukrainian control. Zelensky expressed confusion over the Russian assertions, stating that they lacked visual proof to support their claims.

He criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for living in a "different reality" and suggested that Putin would likely tell the Americans he needed more time to fully occupy eastern Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized the importance of direct dialogue between leaders, noting that the American officials had confirmed Ukraine's assessment of the battlefield situation.

He concluded that the purpose of the talks was to "sit down and talk at the leaders' level." The first day of the talks took place on November 10, with Russian Military Historical Society head Vladimir Medinsky leading the Russian side and Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov leading Ukraine.