Russia Sets Date for Return to Ukraine Peace Talks

Five people were killed and at least 23 others were wounded in overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv and other cities. This violence occurred just hours before the Kremlin confirmed it would resume three-way peace negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. The announcement signals a potential restart of diplomatic efforts that had stalled earlier this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to hold talks after November 10. Yuri Ushakov, the foreign affairs adviser, made the statement following a three-hour meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Ushakov stated the discussions will focus on building a security system for both nations once the conflict concludes.

This development comes as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal. Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal, citing the significant costs incurred by the United States. He warned that failing to reach an agreement could lead to very bad outcomes for the relationship between the two leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the swift restart of talks. In an audio message released late Wednesday, he noted that the agenda is clear: to end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders level. However, he remained cautious, noting that Russia has previously canceled similar plans and that the current situation remains uncertain.

The path to these negotiations has not been smooth. Ushakov described the proposals emerging from a recent meeting in Oslo as containing little of real value. While he later admitted on state television that the ideas were a step in the right direction, Moscow remains not fully satisfied with the current state of play. Three rounds of negotiations took place in January and February in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, but yielded little progress beyond prisoner exchanges.

During the St. Petersburg meeting, Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed a technical level meeting involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. They also discussed a postwar economic plan and European security. Ushakov noted that large-scale joint economic projects between Russia and the U.S. were discussed in detail, with some nearing the implementation stage. Putin also indicated readiness to consider restoring economic ties with Washington.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that a new phase of diplomacy may have begun. He met with Witkoff for just over an hour at the airport before the envoy flew back to the United States. Støre indicated the new talks are likely to happen in mid-November. He also addressed the issue of borders, suggesting Ukraine may not formally accept a border along the current front line but might learn to live with it.

Other diplomatic moves accompanied the news. Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher held on mercenary charges, in what Witkoff called a goodwill gesture. Additionally, Putin met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss a possible trilateral meeting at an economic summit in China. These developments suggest a broader attempt to reconfigure international alliances and economic partnerships amid the ongoing war.