Kremlin confirms new Ukraine talks

Russia has agreed to restart direct negotiations with the United States and Ukraine starting next month, marking a significant shift in the diplomatic effort to end the war. Kremlin officials confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the proposal in principle. The talks are scheduled to take place after November 10. This development follows a three-hour meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The goal is to establish a security framework for both nations once the fighting stops.

The diplomatic push comes as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Kyiv to finalize a deal. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the rapid restart of conversations. In an audio message released late Wednesday, Zelenskyy stated that the agenda is clear: end the war and prepare for a summit among the leaders. He noted that Russia has long claimed readiness for such meetings, though previous attempts were canceled. The Ukrainian leader added that the outcome of this round remains to be seen.

Background on the earlier negotiations shows limited success. Three rounds of talks occurred in January and February in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. Those sessions resulted mainly in prisoner exchanges, with both sides sticking to their core demands. A day before the St. Petersburg meeting, Witkoff met with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo. The Kremlin criticized the Oslo proposals as containing little real value. However, Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, later suggested the ideas were a step in the right direction, even if Moscow was not fully satisfied.

The St. Petersburg discussions included Jared Kushner, who joined via video link. The group discussed a postwar economic plan and European security arrangements. Putin indicated openness to restoring economic ties with the U.S. and even discussed the conflict in Iran. Ushakov mentioned that large-scale joint economic projects are nearing the implementation stage. In a related gesture, Russia released a retired American teacher who had been held on mercenary charges. Witkoff described the move as a goodwill gesture following Trump’s request.

Reactions from European leaders suggest a potential new phase in diplomacy. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met with Witkoff in Oslo after the Russian trip. Støre told broadcasters that Russia appears to be seeking diplomatic opportunities. He predicted the new talks would occur in mid-November. When asked about border issues, Støre said Ukraine likely would not formally accept the current front line as a permanent border, but might learn to live with it.

Despite the diplomatic progress, military pressure continues. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal. He warned that the failure to reach an agreement could lead to a very bad outcome. Zelenskyy responded by confirming that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings of incoming missiles from allies. This follows recent strikes where the Ukrainian leader said warnings were insufficient.

Overnight attacks in Kyiv resulted in three deaths and twelve injuries, according to the city’s military administration. Energy facilities in Kyiv and three other cities were targeted. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, drone strikes killed two people and wounded eleven others. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces hit a warehouse, an electrical substation, and a ship bound for Odesa. Russian air defenses also intercepted 373 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions and the Black Sea.

What happens next depends on the success of these technical-level talks. The parties aim to build a foundation for a broader peace agreement. A potential trilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia, China, and the U.S. is also being considered for an economic summit in China. For now, the focus is on whether the mid-November talks can produce a tangible path to ending the conflict that has persisted for more than four and a half years.