Zelensky: US proposes trilateral Russia-Ukraine peace talks within October
In short
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 4 October that the United States has proposed holding a US-mediated trilateral peace meeting with Russia and Ukraine within this month. Zelensky said the US is in contact with both sides and is proposing working-level talks in a trilateral format by the end of October, and that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the schedule. No venue or date has been confirmed; Zelensky named the UAE, Switzerland and Turkey earlier, while the Kremlin is seen as leaning towards Abu Dhabi.
Why it matters
The proposal, if it proceeds, would be a first step back to direct US-mediated contact between Moscow and Kyiv, which has been suspended. Any meeting would still depend on both sides agreeing on timing and venue, neither of which the documents say has been settled.
Key facts
- Zelensky said on 4 October that the US proposed a trilateral Russia-Ukraine peace meeting within October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- According to AFP, Zelensky said the US is in contact with Ukraine and Russia and is proposing working-level talks in a trilateral format by the end of October. [ 1 ]
- Zelensky said he spoke with the US delegation the previous day and confirmed that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with such a schedule. [ 1 ]
- Zelensky did not specify a venue, and said he is willing to accept talks in other countries proposed by the US, such as the UAE. [ 1 ]
- Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said October was tentatively in mind for resuming US-mediated trilateral talks and that the possibility could not be excluded. [ 1 ]
- Zelensky earlier named the UAE, Switzerland and Turkey as possible venues, and the Kremlin is seen as leaning towards Abu Dhabi. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States has proposed holding a trilateral Russia-Ukraine peace meeting within October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zelensky said the US proposal concerns working-level talks in a trilateral format by the end of October, and that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the schedule. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- Where and when the proposed talks would be held. Zelensky did not specify a venue or date, and the documents say only that the UAE, Switzerland and Turkey have been mentioned as candidates, with the Kremlin seen as favouring Abu Dhabi; no host has been confirmed.
- Whether Russia has agreed to take part. Only a September statement by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is cited, saying October was tentatively in mind and the possibility could not be excluded; no Russian confirmation of participation is reported.
- The level of the proposed meeting. The documents report it as a working-level meeting in a trilateral format, but no formal agenda or participant list is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes its report on Zelensky's remarks that the US proposed trilateral Russia-Ukraine talks within October (4 October local time). [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a summary of the same remarks (5 October local time). [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a report headlined on the US push for a working-level US-Russia-Ukraine meeting in October (5 October local time). [ 3 ]