Russia Agrees to Trilateral Peace Talks with US and Ukraine

Russia has agreed to participate in trilateral peace talks with the United States and Ukraine, with the meeting tentatively scheduled for November in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement was made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday.

This development follows a week of intensified diplomatic engagement, including a meeting in Saint Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Prior to meeting with Putin, Witkoff had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo. Both Kyiv and Moscow have expressed willingness to resume direct talks mediated by Washington.

Russia has proposed that the talks could occur around November 10, while Zelensky has advocated for the discussions to take place as soon as possible. Putin stated in a televised interview that any trilateral discussions would focus on the security arrangements for a final peace deal, rather than a short-term truce.

During his visit, Witkoff commended Putin, referring to him as a "humanitarian" after Russia announced the release of Steven Hubbard, a 74-year-old American retired teacher who had been detained in Russia since 2022. Witkoff also thanked Putin for lifting export controls on Russian diesel, a move that would lead to shipments heading to the U.S.

Witkoff indicated that he had presented "ideas" for a potential peace deal to Putin, stating, "We've brought some papers. It's really some ideas, some sort of peace deal between Russia and Ukraine." The U.S. envoy's remarks and the warming relationship between the U.S. and Russia have drawn criticism, particularly as President Donald Trump pushes for a negotiated settlement in Ukraine and closer economic ties with Russia.