ST PETERSBURG: The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine, the United States and Kyiv after November 10.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the decision after Putin met US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, at the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg.
Their discussions lasted approximately three hours and focused on restarting negotiations to end the war. Ushakov said the proposed talks would address security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.
Witkoff travelled to Russia after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.
The discussions in Oslo covered potential security guarantees, occupied territories and possible arrangements for ending hostilities. Zelenskyy said Wednesday that halting the fighting was the minimum requirement for ending the war.
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He has also called for a summit between national leaders to overcome the negotiating deadlock. Russia, Ukraine and the United States previously held three rounds of negotiations in Abu Dhabi and Geneva earlier this year.
However, those meetings produced limited progress beyond prisoner exchanges, with Moscow and Kyiv maintaining different positions on a settlement. Meanwhile, Trump has increased pressure on Ukraine to reach an agreement with Russia.
His administration recently waived sanctions on Moscow after arranging Russian diesel imports to address rising US fuel prices. Lawmakers from both major American political parties criticised the decision.
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Arguing that it would benefit Russia without substantially reducing fuel costs. Zelenskyy has separately accused Washington of delaying deliveries of Patriot missiles purchased by Ukraine.
During Wednesday’s diplomatic visit, Russia also released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian detention.
