Kremlin backs new peace talks with US and Ukraine

Russia has agreed to resume three-way peace talks with the United States and Ukraine, a move that could lead to the first such meeting since February. Kremlin official Yuri Ushakov announced the decision on Wednesday after a high-level meeting in St. Petersburg. President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed in principle to restart negotiations after November 10.

The decision follows a series of diplomatic efforts over the past few days. On Tuesday, US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo. The following day, Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to discuss the next steps with Putin. This rapid sequence of meetings suggests a renewed push to find a resolution to the war.

Zelenskyy expressed support for the swift restart of talks. In an audio message released late Wednesday, he stated that the goal is to end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders' level. He noted that Russia has previously expressed readiness to meet, though past efforts were often canceled. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need to bring peace closer for both nations.

The upcoming talks will focus on building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. Ushakov described the proposals from the Oslo meeting as a step in the right direction, even if Moscow is not fully satisfied with them. He indicated that large-scale joint economic projects between the US and Russia were discussed in detail during the St. Petersburg meeting.

President Trump has been pressing Zelenskyy to reach a deal, stating that the US has provided significant support to Ukraine. Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated in the St. Petersburg discussions, with Kushner joining by video. They proposed a technical-level three-way meeting and discussed postwar economic plans and European security arrangements.

In related developments, Russia released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on mercenary charges. Witkoff described this as a goodwill gesture following Trump's request. Additionally, Putin met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and the leaders discussed a possible trilateral meeting at an economic summit in China next month. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that a new phase of diplomacy may be beginning, with talks likely in mid-November.

Despite the diplomatic progress, military tensions remain high. Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv and other cities left five people dead and at least 23 wounded. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones over multiple regions. These strikes underscore the urgency of the negotiations as both sides continue to engage in combat operations.