Russia, U.S., and Ukraine to Hold New Peace Talks in November

Peace talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine are set to resume in November. This development could bring the first formal negotiations since February. The Kremlin announced the move on Wednesday. It follows a meeting in St. Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The goal is to create a security framework for both nations once the fighting stops.

The talks were agreed upon in principle after a three-hour discussion. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed the decision to reporters. The session took place at the Constantine Palace. Jared Kushner joined the conversation via video link. Ushakov noted that the proposals from a recent meeting in Oslo had limited value. However, he later described them as a step in the right direction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the move. He stated that the agenda is clear: end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders’ level. He added that Russia has expressed readiness to meet in various formats. This support comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pressures Kyiv to finalize a deal. Trump recently told reporters that the U.S. has given much to Ukraine but received little in return.

The diplomatic efforts coincide with continued military conflict. A missile alert sounded in Kyiv shortly after Zelenskyy’s statement. Loud explosions were heard in the capital. Ukrainian officials reported that overnight attacks killed five people and wounded at least 23 others. Residential buildings and energy facilities were damaged in Kyiv and three other cities.

Beyond the war, the leaders discussed economic ties. Putin said he is ready to consider restoring economic relations with the U.S. Ushakov mentioned that large-scale joint projects were discussed in detail. Some of these initiatives are nearing the implementation stage. The two leaders also talked about a possible meeting at an economic summit in China next month. Beijing is already preparing for this event.

In other developments, Russia released a retired American teacher named Stephen Hubbard. He had been imprisoned on mercenary charges. Witkoff described the release as a goodwill gesture. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met with Witkoff in Oslo after his trip to Russia. Støre suggested that the new talks may occur in mid-November. He believes the parties are entering a phase where diplomacy is more likely.

The next steps involve technical-level meetings to prepare for higher-level discussions. The U.S. official involved said progress on the talks with Zelenskyy was shared with Putin. The focus remains on securing a postwar economic plan and European security. With the war now in its fifth year, all three sides appear keen to bring new momentum to the peace process.