Kremlin Confirms U.S., Russia, Ukraine Set for Three-Way Talks

For months, Washington has been pushing for a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine, while Kyiv and Moscow remain locked in their positions. Now, the Kremlin says it is willing to sit down with U.S. and Ukrainian representatives for a three-way meeting. This potential resumption of talks marks a significant diplomatic development, as the three nations have not engaged in such a format since February. The announcement comes as U.S. efforts to broker a deal face significant challenges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed "in principle" to restart negotiations after Nov. 10, according to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser. The decision follows a three-hour meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The stated focus for these discussions will be "building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends," a framework intended to address long-term security concerns. The meeting also included Ushakov and Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, participating by video.

The Ukrainian side has expressed support for reviving this format. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he supports the push from Washington to restart talks quickly. "The agenda is clear: to end the war, bring peace closer, and, as I understand it, prepare everything for a meeting at the leaders’ level," Zelenskyy said. He noted Russia's fluctuating readiness for dialogue, adding, "We’ll see what happens this time." His comments were delivered in an audio message issued late Wednesday, shortly before a missile alert and explosions were heard in Kyiv.

This proposal to meet comes after previous negotiations failed to yield substantial results. Representatives from the three nations held three rounds of talks early this year, with meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. However, little progress was reported beyond exchanges of prisoners of war as Moscow and Kyiv stuck to their longstanding basic demands. The recent meeting in St. Petersburg also addressed economic ties between Russia and the U.S., with Ushakov saying that large-scale joint projects were discussed in detail. Putin expressed readiness to consider restoring economic ties and to discuss the conflict involving the U.S. and Iran.

The push for new talks is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration, which has sought to end the war since early last year. However, no significant progress has been made in those efforts. The latest proposals discussed in Oslo, Norway, were described by Ushakov as containing "little of real value," though he later told Russian state TV they were a step in the right direction. U.S.-led peace efforts have made no significant progress in the more than 4½ years since the war began.

Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, indicated a potential shift in the situation. After meeting with Witkoff in Oslo, Støre told a broadcaster he believes a phase may have begun where the Russians are also seeking diplomatic opportunities. He suggested talks were likely to happen in mid-November. When asked about the possibility of Ukraine accepting a border along the current front line, Støre said, "I don’t think Ukraine will ever formally accept it and say that this is the new border. But whether they can live with it is another matter."