Putin Greenlights Three-Way Peace Talks With Washington and Kyiv

A significant diplomatic shift occurred in St. Petersburg as Moscow agreed to resume trilateral peace talks with Washington and Kyiv next month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his approval in principle to restart these discussions after November 10, according to foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. This potential meeting would mark the first such three-way engagement since February. The St. Petersburg discussion between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff lasted approximately three hours. Witkoff’s recent itinerary included meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo just a day prior to his visit to Russia.

The gathering at the Constantine Palace included Ushakov and Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner joined the conversation via video link. U.S. officials noted that Witkoff and Kushner proposed a technical level meeting and discussed postwar economic plans. They also addressed European security concerns. Witkoff reported that the Kremlin released a retired American teacher held on mercenary charges, a move described as a goodwill gesture following Trump’s request.

Ushakov stated that the primary focus of the upcoming talks is building a security system for both nations after the conflict ends. While he initially claimed the Oslo proposals contained little real value, he later told state television that they represent a step in the right direction. Putin indicated readiness to discuss restoring U.S. Russia economic ties and said large scale joint projects are nearing the implementation stage. He also mentioned the possibility of a trilateral economic summit in China involving Russian and U.S. leaders next month.

Zelenskyy expressed support for the swift resumption of talks in an audio message issued late Wednesday. He noted that the agenda is clear to end the war and prepare for a leaders level meeting. However, he remained cautious, observing that Russia had previously canceled scheduled meetings. Shortly after his remarks, missile alerts sounded over Kyiv, accompanied by loud explosions in the capital.

The diplomatic push comes amid continued pressure from the White House. President Trump told reporters Tuesday that he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal, citing significant U.S. investment and losses. He warned that failing to reach an agreement would lead to bad outcomes. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met with Witkoff in Oslo and suggested a new diplomatic phase may be emerging. He predicted the new talks would likely occur in mid November and discussed the complexities of border recognition with Ukraine.

The stakes remain high as fighting continues on the ground. Overnight Russian attacks killed five people and wounded at least 23 others across Kyiv and Kharkiv. Energy facilities and residential buildings were targeted. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 373 Ukrainian drones overnight. These military developments underscore the urgency of the diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration, which has sought to end the war for over four and a half years without significant prior success.