Putin and Zelenskyy Back US Proposal for Trilateral Peace Talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have both expressed support for a three-way U.S. peace proposal to end the war, with negotiations potentially scheduled for early November. The diplomatic push follows more than four and a half years of conflict, marked by intense fighting and shifting economic power between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv.
Putin and Witkoff Discuss Resuming Talks in Abu Dhabi
The Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg hosted a three-hour meeting on Wednesday where Russian President Vladimir Putin received U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. This encounter marked the ninth time Witkoff has met Putin in person. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Putin conveyed an in-principle willingness to resume talks with Washington and Kyiv in mid-November, suggesting Abu Dhabi as a possible venue. The discussions also touched on broader geopolitical issues, including Russia’s relationship with Tehran and potential fertilizer supplies for U.S. farmers.
During the St. Petersburg summit, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a retired U.S. teacher held in the country, as an initial goodwill gesture. Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova reported from Moscow that the Russian government remains intensely focused on securing the lifting of international sanctions, particularly U.S. measures targeting its diesel sales. President Donald Trump’s administration has used economic sanctions and trade pressure to push Moscow toward ending the war, even as friction persists over international compliance and trade flows.
In Oslo and St. Petersburg, @JaredKushner and I met with Russian, Ukrainian, and European leaders to advance President Trump’s mission to end the war. In St. Petersburg, we met with President Putin to build on the progress made in Oslo with President Zelenskyy, discuss a peace…
Oslo Briefings and the Push for November Negotiations
Steve Witkoff flew to Russia immediately after holding discussions in Norway with Ukrainian and European officials, including the prime ministers of Norway and Finland, alongside representatives from the European Union and NATO. Speaking via WhatsApp while returning to Kyiv from Norway, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s support for the trilateral framework. Zelenskyy stated that the talks should occur no later than early November, emphasizing Kyiv’s backing for ceasefire proposals, energy ceasefires, and humanitarian initiatives.
Ushakov noted that Witkoff briefed Putin on the substance of the Oslo meetings, describing new perspectives from Kyiv and European capitals while observing that concrete details remained limited. Meanwhile, Democrats have raised questions regarding potential conflicts of interest for U.S. envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner due to their extensive global business portfolios.
We continue coordinating with @jonasgahrstore on our next steps toward a just peace. We held another meeting in Oslo this morning. A lot depends on whether the American side manages to hear something new from Russia today – about peace, not about continuing the war. I thank all… pic.twitter.com/cVZNphqYfH
Deteriorating U.S.-Ukraine Ties and Battlefield Realities
Diplomatic momentum coincides with severe strains in the bilateral relationship between Washington and Kyiv. Tensions escalated sharply after the Trump administration announced a diesel export deal with Russia. At the same time, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, billionaire Elon Musk ordered the throttling of Starshield, a military-grade satellite internet service developed by SpaceX that is critical for Ukrainian field operations and drone defense.
Zelenskyy previously accused Washington of slowing down the satellite network. Despite these friction points, Zelenskyy confirmed that vital U.S. intelligence sharing had been restored following the Oslo meetings. Both nations continue to sustain long-range attacks along the front lines. Regional authorities reported civilian casualties on Wednesday, including a fatal drone strike in Russia’s western Bryansk region and a Russian attack on a residential high-rise in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district.
🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦Russian President Vladimir Putin told White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday that he "agrees in principle" resuming trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. to end the war, the Kremlin said. My report on @axios https://t.co/f6qbQvpvbL
Trump Pressures Kyiv to Accept Putin's Peace Demands
Fundamental disagreements continue to separate Moscow and Kyiv regarding the ultimate shape of a peace agreement. Putin maintains uncompromising demands, requiring full Russian control over the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine and a permanent bar against Ukrainian membership in NATO. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Kyiv to accept a settlement, warning publicly that Ukraine must conclude the conflict or face “a very bad thing”.
As diplomats work through these stark divides, military supply lines and energy infrastructure remain primary targets. Moscow has escalated a sustained campaign against Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the winter months, recently targeting a vessel carrying military cargo toward the port of Odesa.
🇺🇸🇷🇺After talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, White House envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday and present him with an updated proposal to end the war in Ukraine. My report on @axios https://t.co/7xYGNQtLK7