The European Union will activate a special emergency mechanism to provide quick financial assistance to Ukraine as Russian strikes continue to disrupt power, water and heating supplies across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the decision after speaking with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said several Ukrainian cities and regions were facing severe shortages. He identified Kyiv, Dnipro, Sumy, Donetsk and Kherson as the worst-affected areas.

The Ukrainian President said, "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."

The two leaders also discussed additional energy and humanitarian assistance ahead of winter. They reviewed Ukraine's progress towards European integration following the European Commission's annual EU Enlargement Package. Zelenskyy said, "This 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."

The discussion also covered recent diplomatic meetings in Brussels, where Ukrainian teams worked on a recovery plan and security guarantees from Europe. Zelenskyy said, "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!"

The diplomatic efforts come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in France for the two-day G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting on November 9-10. The summit will address international security concerns, review initiatives from the March 2026 meeting in Vaux-de-Cernay and coordinate multilateral strategies.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that a Russia-Ukraine peace deal could be reached soon. In an interview with CBS News, he identified the hostility between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the biggest obstacle.

"It was the hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin. If I had been president, that war would've never started. Zero chance. But it did start. So, I inherited that war. I believe we're very close to making a deal," Trump said.

He also suggested that Ukraine might have to accept territorial changes under a potential settlement. "I think we're gonna have it done, and I think it's gonna happen and they're gonna end up with a little bit different shape Ukraine," he said.

On Iran, Trump dismissed the possibility of further military action, saying, "I'm not looking to. I don't think there's any reason to. I don't think there's any reason to." He also claimed that Iran's nuclear material remained sealed beneath thousands of tonnes of rock and said Washington had achieved its main military objectives.

The developments come ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. The discussions will focus on ending the war, securing reliable guarantees for Ukraine and preventing Kyiv from accepting unfavourable peace terms. European partners will also participate, while US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will lead the American delegation.

However, Moscow and Kyiv remain divided over territorial boundaries and Ukraine's future security arrangements. Zelenskyy has also warned that an expanded European security framework could create serious complications and vulnerabilities if Ukraine's core security requirements remain unmet.