Russia Signals Readiness for Talks With US and Ukraine on Conflict Resolution
Kremlin's top aide states Moscow is open to resuming negotiations, proposing a potential November timeframe.
Russia has indicated its willingness in principle to resume peace talks with the United States and Ukraine, according to Yuriy Ushakov, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ushakov stated that Moscow is prepared for a new round of negotiations, suggesting a potential timeframe around November 10.
The announcement followed a meeting between Putin and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg. Ushakov conveyed that the ideas brought by Witkoff were not deemed particularly "useful."
Top officials from Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. had previously engaged in several rounds of talks aimed at resolving the conflict, which escalated in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These discussions were suspended, with the Kremlin citing "massive" Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory the previous month as the reason for the disruption.
Ushakov emphasized that any renewed talks must prioritize the establishment of a security framework for both Russia and Ukraine following the conclusion of the conflict. Witkoff's visit to Moscow occurred after engagements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Norway and Finland.