Russia Agrees to Resume Three-Way Peace Talks With Ukraine and US After November 10

More than four and a half years after the full-scale invasion began, Russia has agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that talks will restart after November 10, potentially marking the first such high-level discussions since February. This development follows a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, a session that also included Russian foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov and presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined the discussion via video link.

The path to this agreement has been uneven. In January and February of this year, representatives from the three nations held three rounds of negotiations, with two sessions taking place in Abu Dhabi and a subsequent meeting in Geneva. Despite these efforts, little tangible progress was made beyond the exchange of prisoners of war, as Moscow and Kyiv remained entrenched in their longstanding core demands. The current diplomatic push comes as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal that halts the fighting, noting that the administration has made no significant breakthroughs in its peace efforts since early last year.

Ushakov stated that the upcoming discussions will focus on building a security system for both Russia and Ukraine once the conflict concludes. He noted that while Moscow is not fully satisfied with the proposals that emerged from a recent meeting in Oslo, Norway, involving Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, they represent a step in the right direction. Ushakov described the Oslo proposals as containing little of real value for resolving the crisis, yet he acknowledged they provide a framework for moving forward.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the swift resumption of talks. In an audio message issued late Wednesday, he said the agenda is clear: to end the war, bring peace closer, and prepare for a meeting at the leaders’ level. Zelenskyy observed that Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness to meet in various formats, though previous attempts were canceled. He added, “We’ll see what happens this time.” Shortly after his message, a missile alert sounded over Kyiv, accompanied by loud explosions in the capital.

The St. Petersburg meeting also touched on broader geopolitical issues. Putin indicated his readiness to consider restoring economic ties with the United States and to discuss the U.S.-led conflict with Iran. He suggested Moscow could use its relationship with Tehran to help bring peace. Ushakov highlighted that large-scale joint economic projects with significant cooperation prospects were discussed in detail, with some nearing the implementation stage. The leaders also explored a potential summit next month in China involving the U.S., Russia, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who met with Putin during his visit to St. Petersburg.

In a gesture of goodwill, Russia released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Witkoff noted this appeared to be a response to Trump’s request to Putin. The diplomatic efforts continue as Witkoff returned to Oslo for further consultations with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Støre suggested that a new phase of diplomacy may have begun, with the new talks likely occurring in mid-November.

Tensions remain high on the ground. In the White House on Tuesday, Trump urged Zelenskyy to make a deal, stating, “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. We’ve gotten absolutely nothing back except grief, death, tremendous monetary loss.” He warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to a very bad outcome. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv is again receiving early warnings from partners about incoming Russian missiles, a practice that had recently lapsed.

Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv resulted in three deaths and 12 injuries, damaging 10 residential buildings. Energy facilities in Kyiv and three other cities were targeted. Outside Kharkiv, two people died and 11 were wounded in a drone strike on a residential area. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces struck a warehouse, an electrical substation, and a bulk carrier headed to Odesa. It also claimed its air defenses intercepted 373 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, including the Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea.

As the diplomatic window opens, the stakes remain high. The next month will determine whether these negotiations can move beyond technical discussions to a substantive agreement. Both sides are signaling a willingness to engage, but the gap between their positions on security and borders remains significant. The coming weeks will be critical in testing whether the momentum from St. Petersburg and Oslo can translate into a durable peace framework.