Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, as US President Donald Trump says efforts to end the war are closer to a breakthrough than at any previous point.
The announcement followed a meeting in St. Petersburg on Wednesday between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. According to the Kremlin, the two sides discussed restarting negotiations after November 10, raising hopes for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that has continued for more than four years.
Trump said the United States was making progress towards ending the war, describing the current situation as the closest the parties had been to a resolution. However, no final peace agreement or comprehensive ceasefire has been announced.
Russia Signals Readiness for Fresh Negotiations
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Russia was prepared in principle to resume trilateral negotiations around November 10. The discussions are expected to address a possible post-war security framework for Russia and Ukraine.
The proposed format would bring representatives of Moscow, Kyiv and Washington back to the negotiating table. Abu Dhabi has been mentioned as a possible venue for the next round of discussions, although a final location and schedule have not been confirmed.
The renewed diplomatic initiative follows earlier rounds of talks that produced limited progress, including prisoner exchanges, but failed to resolve major disagreements over territory, security guarantees and the future relationship between Ukraine and Western countries.
Trump Presses for an End to the War
Trump has increased pressure on both sides to reach a settlement, particularly on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider an agreement with Moscow.
The US administration has been working on proposals intended to bring the parties closer to a negotiated settlement. Witkoff’s latest meeting with Putin followed discussions in Oslo with Zelenskyy and European representatives, where officials addressed security guarantees, reconstruction and the broader framework for ending hostilities.
Witkoff described the recent diplomatic contacts as showing some momentum. The discussions also covered potential improvements in US-Russia economic relations and other international issues.
Ukraine Wants Security Guarantees
Ukraine has indicated that it is willing to continue diplomatic engagement but insists that any settlement must address its long-term security.
Zelenskyy has said that freezing the fighting along the current front line could serve as an initial step towards ending the war. Kyiv also wants credible guarantees to prevent another Russian invasion and has raised questions about occupied territories and post-war reconstruction.
Russia and Ukraine remain divided over fundamental terms, including territorial control and the future security arrangements for the region. Previous negotiations have struggled to bridge these differences.
Fighting Continues Despite Diplomatic Efforts
The renewed push for negotiations comes as fighting and long-range strikes continue. Ukrainian officials reported civilian casualties and damage to residential areas following Russian attacks, while Russian authorities reported intercepting large numbers of Ukrainian drones.
The continuing violence highlights the gap between diplomatic progress and conditions on the battlefield. Even if trilateral negotiations resume in November, a settlement would depend on whether the parties can agree on a ceasefire, territorial questions and enforceable security arrangements.
For now, Russia’s willingness to restart talks offers a new opening for diplomacy, but the timeline for ending the war remains uncertain. The next round of negotiations will be an important test of whether the renewed contacts can produce concrete progress towards peace.
