Russia Agrees to Resume Trilateral Peace Talks on Ukraine in Mid-November

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held an important meeting in Russia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, fuel agreements and the international situation surrounding Iran. According to the Kremlin, Putin has agreed in principle to resume trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in mid-November, with the aim of ending the war and establishing security guarantees for both countries. Witkoff briefed Putin on the Oslo talks and new U.S. proposals. However, the two sides have yet to reach full agreement on the final terms of a peace deal. The meeting also covered a diesel agreement between the two countries and diplomatic developments concerning Iran, with Putin emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia was ready to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine to discuss security arrangements following the end of the conflict. The announcement came on Wednesday after nearly three hours of talks between Putin and Witkoff, who serves as a special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, at Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg. Jared Kushner participated via video link because illness prevented him from travelling. According to Ushakov, Putin told Witkoff that Moscow was, in principle, prepared to resume trilateral talks in mid-November, with the postwar security framework for Russia and Ukraine expected to be the central topic. Ushakov said Witkoff indicated that Trump would welcome the proposal.

The Kremlin adviser explained that previous attempts to revive trilateral negotiations had failed because Kyiv allegedly carried out large-scale attacks on Moscow and other Russian cities during Russia's recent parliamentary elections. According to Ushakov, polling stations were targeted on the main voting day, and members of the election commission were killed. However, he said the situation had now been reassessed in light of signals received from the Americans. Ushakov added that Putin had praised Trump, his administration and their special representatives for their mediation efforts aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.

The Russian president also presented what he described as an objective assessment of the situation along the front lines, claiming that Russian forces had gained the full strategic initiative. He said Moscow's troops were advancing continuously across all major fronts and effectively destroying Ukraine's military-industrial facilities, energy infrastructure and logistical installations.

In addition to Ukraine, the participants discussed an October diesel agreement under which Washington eased restrictions on Russian fuel exports. Both sides said the arrangement served their interests and would help stabilize global fuel markets. Ushakov added that other joint economic projects were also approaching the implementation stage. The last round of negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States took place in Geneva in February, following two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi. However, further negotiations were suspended after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran, which affected access to the United Arab Emirates. Ushakov told Russian media that Abu Dhabi was once again being considered as a possible venue for the talks. Putin, however, had not yet selected the members of Russia's future negotiating delegation. Asked by journalists whether the Ukraine conflict was moving towards an end, Ushakov replied that it was heading in that direction.