Ukraine and European allies meet US officials on war funding ahead of Russia talks

Ukraine and its European allies met US officials in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss war funding and economic recovery, ahead of US-led trilateral talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi starting Nov. 10. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a "very detailed" call with White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and that Ukraine presented its funding calculations for next year's war effort. The meeting included delegations from the US, Ukraine, Germany, France, the UK, NATO, and the World Bank. The talks come after Trump's Republican Party suffered losses in the midterm elections, and following a public feud between Trump and Zelenskyy over Starlink speeds and Patriot missile delays. Russia has maintained maximalist demands, while Moscow's escalating air strikes have increased damage, with reconstruction costs estimated at nearly $588 billion.