Russian officials indicated readiness to return to negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict following meetings between Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Ushakov stated that discussions could resume around 10 November in Abu Dhabi, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing support for talks to begin as soon as possible.
A US official confirmed that negotiators proposed a trilateral technical-level meeting between representatives of the US, Russia, and Ukraine. The proposal was accepted by Ukrainian officials in Oslo and Russian officials in St Petersburg, according to the official. Zelensky indicated openness to a settlement that would freeze military operations along the current front line, describing such an arrangement as the minimum acceptable outcome and noting that broader security guarantees could be addressed subsequently.
Witkoff characterized the latest discussions as constructive, while Jared Kushner, another key US negotiator, suggested momentum exists for achieving a framework for peace. Talks have been halted since February, with Russia previously declining to engage, citing battlefield gains. The resumption of diplomatic efforts comes amid tensions between the US and Ukraine regarding intelligence sharing, military support, and related policy matters.
The meetings also resulted in Russia’s release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen previously sentenced to imprisonment. Trump administration officials praised the release as a positive development. Prior to the St Petersburg meetings, Witkoff visited Oslo to meet with Ukrainian and Nordic leadership to discuss potential negotiation frameworks and security arrangements for Ukraine.
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