Three-Way Ukraine Peace Talks Resume Soon

More than 4.5 years have passed since the start of the war in Ukraine, yet a new diplomatic window is opening. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. These talks are expected to take place after November 10. This development marks the first such tripartite meeting since February. The Kremlin announced the agreement on Wednesday following a significant meeting in St. Petersburg.

Yuri Ushakov, the Russian foreign affairs adviser, confirmed the decision after a roughly three-hour discussion between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The primary goal of these upcoming discussions is to build a security system for both nations once the conflict concludes. Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who joined the meeting via video, proposed this technical-level gathering. They also shared progress from Witkoff’s previous day meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo.

Zelenskyy expressed support for the swift restart of talks in an audio message released late Wednesday. He stated that the agenda is clear: end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders level. However, he noted with some skepticism that Russia has previously shown readiness to meet before canceling plans. This sentiment was immediately tested when a missile alert sounded over Kyiv shortly after his message, accompanied by loud explosions in the capital.

The diplomatic push comes amid continued military pressure. Overnight Russian strikes on energy facilities in Kyiv and three other cities left three people dead and 12 wounded in the capital. In Kharkiv, drone attacks on a residential area killed two more and injured 11. The Russian Defense Ministry stated its forces targeted a warehouse, an electrical substation, and a bulk carrier ship. Meanwhile, Russian air defenses reported intercepting 373 Ukrainian drones over various regions and the Crimean Peninsula.

U.S. President Donald Trump is actively pressing Kyiv to reach an agreement. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, he emphasized the need for a deal, stating that the U.S. has given a lot to Ukraine and received little in return. Witkoff’s recent trip to Norway and Russia signals a renewed effort by the Trump administration to generate momentum. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that the parties may have entered a new phase where Russia is seeking diplomatic opportunities. He predicted the new talks would likely occur in mid-November.

Beyond the immediate peace talks, the St. Petersburg meeting covered broader economic and strategic issues. Putin indicated readiness to consider restoring economic ties with the U.S. and discussed the U.S. led conflict with Iran. Ushakov noted that large-scale joint economic projects were discussed in detail, with some nearing the implementation stage. Additionally, Putin and Witkoff discussed a potential trilateral economic summit in China later this month. This follows a recent veto by Russia and China of a U.S. proposal for U.N. sanctions monitoring in Iran.