Kremlin backs return to Ukraine talks

The long silence in diplomatic corridors may finally break. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to restart three-way negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. This decision sets the stage for the first such talks since February.

The path to this moment has been fraught with stalled progress and shifting timelines. Earlier this year, representatives from the three nations met twice in Abu Dhabi and once in Geneva. These sessions yielded little more than prisoner exchanges, as both Moscow and Kyiv held fast to their core demands. The current push for a new round follows a series of meetings this week designed to reinvigorate the peace process.

The immediate catalyst was a three-hour discussion in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Accompanied by Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov and presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, the group met at the Constantine Palace. Jared Kushner joined via video link. According to a U.S. official, Witkoff and Kushner proposed a technical level meeting and shared updates from their recent talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo. Ushakov noted that the Oslo proposals offered limited value but represented a step in the right direction.

Zelenskyy voiced support for the swift restart of talks, stating the goal is to end the war and prepare for a leaders' level meeting. He expressed hope that Russia would follow through this time, noting previous cancellations. In other diplomatic moves, Putin signaled openness to restoring economic ties with the U.S. and discussed a potential trilateral summit with China in the coming months. Russia also released a retired American teacher, a gesture Witkoff described as a show of goodwill.

The diplomatic push comes against a backdrop of intense military conflict. Overnight strikes on Kyiv and other cities left five people dead and at least 23 others wounded. Russian forces targeted energy facilities and a bulk carrier, while Ukraine reported intercepting hundreds of drones. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi confirmed the attacks hit Kyiv, Kharkiv, and two other cities. The fighting continued even as leaders sought a path to peace.

In Washington, President Donald Trump has pressed Zelenskyy to make a decisive deal, citing significant U.S. support and the desire to end the suffering. Trump warned that failure to agree could have severe consequences. Meanwhile, Witkoff returned to Oslo for further consultations with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Støre suggested the region may have entered a new phase where Russia seeks diplomatic openings. He indicated the next talks are likely to occur in mid-November, shortly after the date Putin set as the start of the negotiation window.

The next steps are now focused on setting the logistics for these mid-November discussions. The agenda will center on building a security system for both nations after the conflict concludes. While the war has entered its fifth year, this renewed momentum offers a tentative chance to move beyond stalemate. All parties are now watching to see if this round of talks can yield tangible results.