Putin agrees in principle to resume Russia-US-Ukraine talks after Nov. 10, Kremlin says
In short
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way talks with the US and Ukraine after Nov. 10, following about three hours of talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21. Ushakov said Abu Dhabi is under consideration as the venue and that security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine would be the main topic.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine on ending the war, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Oct. 21 (local time), as reported by AP and others according to Kyunghyang Shinmun. Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap quoted Ushakov as saying the restart would come after Nov. 10. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg for about three hours, according to the Kremlin as cited by Kukmin Ilbo. Kukmin Ilbo, citing TASS, said Witkoff handed Putin a document with a peace proposal, and, citing CNN, that he repeatedly asked Putin to consider resuming US-mediated three-way talks. According to Ushakov, Witkoff said Trump would be very pleased with Russia's willingness to resume negotiations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Ushakov told Russian state television that Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is being considered as the venue. Newsis quoted him as saying it was agreed to hold the talks in mid-November, at some point in the 10s. He said the talks should focus on building a security framework for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. He said who will join the Russian delegation has not been decided and that Putin will decide. [ 3 , 5 ]
Witkoff had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials in Oslo, Norway, the day before. Yonhap reported that a US official called the result meaningful progress. Ushakov, as cited by Reuters in Kukmin Ilbo, said Witkoff described new elements in the European and Ukrainian approach but that not much of it was useful for resolving the Ukraine crisis. Yonhap said Ushakov dismissed the Oslo plan as having almost nothing of practical value, and that further talks are expected to remain difficult. It added that CNN saw no sign Russia is backing off earlier demands, including the handover of the whole Donbas region, a smaller Ukrainian army and Ukraine giving up NATO membership. [ 4 , 5 ]
The last three-way talks were held in Geneva in February, without the leaders attending, and have not resumed since. Zelensky said in an audio message that he backs the US push for a quick restart. He said the agenda is to end the war, bring peace closer and prepare for a leaders' meeting. He told Fox News he wants a Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit and that European countries should take part. Asked about a possible US-Russia-China summit, he said: do not talk about us without us. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Ushakov also said Russia is preparing a possible first meeting of the Chinese, Russian and US leaders, aimed at the APEC summit in China. Newsis gave the dates as Nov. 18-19 in Shenzhen. Putin also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the same day. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
If the talks take place, they would be the first Russia-US-Ukraine round since February. Yonhap said the prospects for negotiations remain difficult because Russia dismissed the Oslo discussions, and Kukmin Ilbo noted it is uncertain whether the talks will actually happen.
Key facts
- Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff for about three hours on Oct. 21 at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way talks with the US and Ukraine after Nov. 10. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Ushakov said Abu Dhabi is being considered as the venue, with talks agreed for some point in the 10s of November. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Ushakov said the talks should focus on a security framework for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The last three-way talks were held in Geneva, Switzerland, in February, and have not resumed since. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Ushakov said Russia is preparing for a possible meeting of the Chinese, Russian and US leaders on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way talks with the US and Ukraine, according to Ushakov. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Putin and Witkoff met for about three hours in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Ushakov said the Abu Dhabi venue is under consideration for the talks. [ 3 , 5 ]
- No three-way talks have been held since February. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Who will represent Russia in the talks. Newsis reported that Ushakov said this has not been decided and that Putin will decide.
- What conditions Russia will demand in the talks. Yonhap reported that Russia did not say what specific terms it will seek.
- Whether the talks will actually take place. Kukmin Ilbo said it remains to be seen, since Russia set the restart for after Nov. 10; Yonhap said CNN saw no sign Russia is backing off its earlier demands.
- Whether a Trump-Xi-Putin meeting will happen at the APEC summit. Ushakov described it only as being prepared, with the meeting as a goal.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kyunghyang Shinmun published its report, dated Oct. 21, on Putin's agreement in principle. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published captions and a report on the Putin-Witkoff meeting, dated Oct. 22. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reported Ushakov's comments on Abu Dhabi as the possible venue and mid-November timing. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reported Putin's agreement to resume talks after Nov. 10 and Zelensky's reaction. [ 5 ]