In brief
After a three‑hour meeting in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin’s chief aide Yuriy Ushakov indicated that Russia is "ready in principle" to resume peace negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. The trilateral talks, halted in February, could be revived as early as next month, according to Ushakov, who urged a focus on building a secure post‑war framework. The talks had been stalled following Ukraine’s massive strike against Russian forces last month. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Moscow after meetings with Zelensky, Norway and Finland, expressed doubts about the usefulness of the proposals presented. Moscow’s willingness to re‑engage signals a potential shift in the protracted conflict that began in 2022.
Russia Signals Willingness to Restart Talks with Ukraine and the United States
After President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg, Kremlin chief aide Yuriy Ushakov told reporters that Russia is "ready in principle" to resume negotiations with both Kyiv and Washington.
The trilateral talks, which halted in February, are now slated for a new round that could be held as early as next month. Ushakov added that the discussion must centre on building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the war concludes.
Ushakov noted that attempts by Witkoff to shuttle between Ukraine, Norway and Finland had produced ideas that were "not very useful," suggesting that Moscow remains cautious about the proposals on the table.
The conflict, which erupted in February 2022 when Russia launched a full‑scale invasion, has seen multiple rounds of talks aimed at ending hostilities. The Kremlin attributes the suspension of negotiations to Ukraine’s recent massive strikes on Russian positions.
A new negotiation cycle could start around 10 November, Ushakov said, signalling a potential shift in diplomatic momentum after months of stalled talks.
By Jaroslav Lukiv
18 minutes ago
