Putin tells Witkoff Russia is ready to resume US-Ukraine-Russia talks in mid-November
In short
Russian President Putin told US envoy Witkoff on 21 October in St Petersburg that Russia is ready to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine in mid-November. Presidential aide Ushakov said the talks would focus on security arrangements after a peace deal, but also said Witkoff's briefing on his talks in Norway contained little of use to Russia.
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Russian President Putin told US special envoy Witkoff on 21 October that Russia is ready to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine in mid-November, according to Japanese outlets. Presidential aide Ushakov told Russian media about the message, and the Russian presidential office announced it, according to Nikkei. Asahi Shimbun reported that the three-way talks have been suspended since February. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The two men met in St Petersburg. Nippon TV, citing TASS, said the talks lasted about three hours and centred on Ukraine. Ushakov said the talks would concentrate on building security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine after a peace settlement. Mainichi Shimbun reported, citing Ushakov, that Putin made the offer at the US side's request. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Mainichi Shimbun reported that three rounds of talks were held in January and February and were interrupted by the effects of a US-Israeli military operation against Iran. It said the Russian side described the resumed talks as working-level, with Abu Dhabi a candidate venue. NHK's summary, by contrast, called them senior-level talks. Mainichi added that progress is hard to foresee because the two sides' positions are far apart. [ 5 , 6 ]
Witkoff briefed Putin on his 20 October talks in Norway with Ukrainian President Zelensky and others. Ushakov said the new explanation of the European and Ukrainian positions contained little of use, according to Asahi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun quoted him as saying their approach held almost nothing useful for resolving the crisis. Nippon TV, citing TASS, said Witkoff described his meeting with Zelensky as productive and said progress was made, and that he brought documents on a peace proposal. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Putin thanked US President Trump for his efforts on Ukraine, according to TBS and Mainichi. Mainichi said Putin also said Russian forces hold the strategic initiative at the front. It added that they discussed expanding supplies of Russian diesel to the world market, as agreed in a 9 October phone call between the US and Russian leaders. Asahi Shimbun said they also discussed large-scale economic projects, and Ushakov stressed that some are close to starting. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
They also discussed a possible meeting of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. Ushakov said, according to Asahi Shimbun, that China, as host, has begun preparations. TBS reported that the Russian side made a specific proposal on the content. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Nippon TV reported that Russia's release of Hubbard, a US former teacher held for more than four years, was announced alongside the meeting. It said Trump wrote on social media that the US did not have to offer anything in return. According to Nippon TV, he also suggested that the 16 October exemption of Russia from additional sanctions was part of the release negotiations. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The talks have been suspended since February, so Putin's statement is a step towards restarting them. Outlets say the gap between the sides remains large, so progress is hard to foresee.
Key facts
- Putin met US special envoy Witkoff in St Petersburg on 21 October. [ 1 , 6 ]
- Putin said Russia is ready to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine in mid-November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- According to Ushakov, the talks would focus on security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine after a peace settlement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Witkoff briefed Putin on his talks with Zelensky and Ukrainian representatives in Norway on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Ushakov said the briefing on the European and Ukrainian positions had little useful content. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The two men also discussed a possible US-Russia-China leaders' meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The three-way talks were last held in February, according to Asahi Shimbun. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Putin told Witkoff that Russia is ready to resume the three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine in mid-November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Putin and Witkoff met on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Witkoff briefed Putin on the 20 October talks in Norway, and Ushakov said the content had little of use for Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Putin and Witkoff discussed a possible US-Russia-China leaders' meeting at the APEC summit in China in November. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the three-way talks will actually resume in mid-November. Asahi Shimbun said resumption is not yet in sight, and Mainichi Shimbun said progress is hard to foresee because the two sides are far apart.
- The level of the resumed talks. NHK's summary calls them senior-level talks, while Mainichi Shimbun, citing the Russian side, says they would be at working level.
- The exact timing and venue of the talks. Most outlets say mid-November, while Mainichi Shimbun says mid-November or later and names Abu Dhabi only as a candidate venue.
- How Witkoff's Norway talks went. Nippon TV, citing TASS, says Witkoff described the talks with Zelensky as productive and said progress was made, while Ushakov said the briefing contained little of use to Russia.
- Whether the release of US citizen Hubbard was linked to the 16 October exemption from additional sanctions on Russia. Only Nippon TV reports this. It says Trump suggested in a social media post that the exemption was part of the release negotiations.
- Whether the US-Russia-China leaders' meeting will take place. The documents say only that the possibility was discussed and that, per Ushakov, China is making preparations.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asahi Shimbun published its report on Putin's statement to Witkoff. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG published its report on the meeting. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV published its report, including the release of Hubbard. [ 3 ]
- Nikkei published its report on the Russian presidential office announcement. [ 4 ]
- NHK published its summary of the meeting. [ 5 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun published its report from Moscow. [ 6 ]