Putin Agrees to Resume Three Way Peace Talks With Ukraine and the US

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin has agreed to restart US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine, possibly on or after November 10. The announcement followed a nearly three-hour meeting in St Petersburg with US envoy Steve Witkoff, their ninth in person. Russia opened with a goodwill gesture by freeing Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher Donald Trump had asked it to release. The technical-level talks could be held in Abu Dhabi and would focus on security guarantees for both countries after the war. The last US-mediated round took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.

Putin’s Offers on Iran, Fertiliser and a Possible Xi Meeting

Putin offered to use Russia’s long ties with Tehran to help the US reach a nuclear deal and said Russia could send large amounts of fertiliser to American farmers. Both sides also discussed a possible meeting in China with Trump and Xi Jinping, which Beijing is reportedly preparing. Witkoff brought written peace ideas, and Jared Kushner joined by phone. Kirill Dmitriev said major joint economic projects were discussed.

Ukraine US Relations Under Strain

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the outcome of Witkoff’s Oslo talks with Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders did not fully satisfy Moscow. Putin has shown little sign of dropping core demands, including full control of Donetsk, no NATO membership for Kyiv and a full peace deal rather than a ceasefire. Ties between Washington and Kyiv have weakened since Trump announced a diesel export deal with Russia, with Ukraine citing disrupted intelligence sharing and Starshield access. The Wall Street Journal reported Elon Musk ordered a Starlink slowdown, which Reuters said thet could not verify. Marco Rubio said Washington had not cut Kyiv’s access.