Kremlin Confirms Three-Way Ukraine Peace Talks Will Resume

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume direct negotiations with the United States and Ukraine, signaling a potential breakthrough in the long-stalled peace process. A Kremlin official confirmed on Wednesday that the talks are set to begin after November 10, which would mark the first such three-way discussions since February. This development follows a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who traveled to Russia to gauge Moscow’s position.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, stated that the Russian leader agreed to restart the process in principle. The primary focus of these upcoming sessions will be constructing a post-conflict security framework for both nations. This move aligns with the current administration’s push to force a conclusion to the war, a pressure campaign that has intensified in recent weeks as Washington seeks to extract a deal from Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his support for the swift resumption of talks. In an audio message released late Wednesday, he noted that the agenda is straightforward: ending the war and preparing for a leaders’ level summit. However, his tone remained cautious. He observed that Russia has repeatedly claimed readiness to negotiate in various formats, only for plans to be canceled or derailed. He concluded that observers will have to see if this latest attempt holds firm.

The diplomatic momentum coincides with a tense military environment. Shortly after Zelenskyy’s message, missile alerts sounded over Kyiv, accompanied by loud explosions in the capital. Ukrainian authorities reported that overnight strikes killed three people and injured twelve, damaging ten residential buildings. In the east, drone attacks near Kharkiv killed two more and wounded eleven. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces targeted energy facilities and a bulk carrier heading to Odesa, while also intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones.

Despite the progress in scheduling talks, skepticism remains regarding the substance of recent proposals. Ushakov criticized the outcomes of a meeting in Oslo the day before the St. Petersburg session, stating that the proposals contained little of real value for resolving the crisis. He later softened this stance on state television, acknowledging that while Moscow is not fully satisfied, the Oslo discussions represent a step in the right direction. This ambivalence reflects the broader difficulty in bridging the gap between the two sides’ longstanding demands.

U.S. officials indicated that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who joined the St. Petersburg meeting via video, proposed the technical-level three-way talks. They also shared updates on their recent discussions with Zelenskyy. The agenda reportedly included postwar economic plans and European security architecture. A U.S. official familiar with the private meeting noted that the leaders appear keen to inject new momentum into the peace efforts, which have seen no significant breakthroughs in over four and a half years.

Putin also used the occasion to discuss broader geopolitical issues. In televised remarks, he expressed readiness to consider restoring economic ties with the United States and to discuss the U.S.-led conflict with Iran. He suggested that Moscow could leverage its relationship with Tehran to help bring about peace. Ushakov added that large-scale joint economic projects between Russia and the U.S. were discussed in detail, with some nearing the implementation stage. This economic overture may be a key lever in the upcoming negotiations.

Other diplomatic activities accompanied the main talks. Russia released a retired American teacher, Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned on mercenary charges. Witkoff described this as a goodwill gesture following Trump’s request. Putin also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who was in St. Petersburg for broader talks. The two discussed a possible trilateral meeting among Russian, Chinese, and U.S. leaders at an upcoming economic summit in China. Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who met with Witkoff in Oslo, suggested the region may have entered a new phase where Russia is actively seeking diplomatic opportunities.

The pressure from Washington remains high. On Tuesday, President Trump told reporters that he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal, expressing frustration that the U.S. has given much to Ukraine while receiving little in return. He warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to a very bad situation. Zelenskyy, for his part, said Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings about incoming missiles, a sign of improved coordination with allies after recent strikes that he said occurred without sufficient notice.