Putin Backs Three-Way Ukraine Talks After Witkoff Meeting

The war in Ukraine could soon see a new diplomatic push as Russia agreed to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv. A Kremlin official announced on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to restart negotiations after November 10. This move potentially sets up the first such meetings since February, offering a glimmer of hope after months of stalled progress.

The agreement was reached after a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, stated that the discussions focused on building a security system for both nations after the conflict ends. Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who joined via video, proposed the technical level meeting and shared updates from their previous talks with Zelenskyy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing Kyiv to make a deal, telling reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he wants Zelenskyy to agree to a settlement. Trump expressed frustration, saying the U.S. has given a lot to Ukraine but received mostly grief and monetary loss in return. This pressure comes as relations between the two leaders have soured again recently.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported the swift restart of talks, saying in an audio message that the agenda is clear: end the war and prepare for a leaders' meeting. However, he remained cautious, noting that Russia has previously canceled plans. His message came shortly before a missile alert sounded over Kyiv, with loud explosions heard in the capital.

While Moscow claims it is ready to meet, Ushakov noted that proposals from a recent Oslo meeting contained little real value. He later softened this stance, calling them a step in the right direction. Meanwhile, Russia released a retired American teacher, Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned on mercenary charges, a move Witkoff described as a goodwill gesture.

The diplomatic efforts extend beyond Ukraine. Putin discussed restoring economic ties with the U.S. and a possible trilateral meeting with China at an upcoming summit. He also spoke with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his stay in St. Petersburg. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested the region may have entered a new phase of diplomacy, though he noted Ukraine may struggle to formally accept a border along the current front line.

Despite the diplomatic momentum, fighting continued on Wednesday. Russian attacks killed five people and wounded at least 23 others across several cities. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones over multiple regions. These events underscore the fragile nature of the peace process as all three nations attempt to find common ground.