Kremlin Backs Restart of Ukraine Peace Talks After St. Petersburg Summit

Diplomats in St. Petersburg signaled a major shift in the conflict overnight.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to restart three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv. The talks are scheduled to begin after November 10. This move marks the first such diplomatic engagement since February. Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s foreign affairs adviser, confirmed the decision following a meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The primary goal of these discussions is to build a security framework for both nations once the fighting ends.

The agreement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced support for the rapid restart of talks. He stated that the agenda is clear: to end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders' level. However, he noted that Russia had previously canceled similar meetings. Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about what might happen this time. His remarks came shortly after a missile alert sounded over Kyiv. Loud explosions were heard in the capital, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The three-hour discussion in St. Petersburg followed Witkoff’s meetings in Oslo with Zelenskyy and European leaders. Ushakov described the Oslo proposals as containing little real value for resolving the crisis. Yet, he later suggested that while Moscow is not fully satisfied, the proposals represent a step in the right direction. Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who joined the St. Petersburg meeting via video, proposed the technical-level trilateral talks. They also discussed a postwar economic plan and European security issues.

Putin indicated a willingness to explore restoring economic ties with the United States. Ushakov said large-scale joint economic projects were discussed in detail. Some of these initiatives are nearing the implementation stage. The Kremlin also released a retired American teacher, Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned on mercenary charges. Witkoff described this as a goodwill gesture following Trump’s request. Additionally, Putin met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is in St. Petersburg for broader talks. The two leaders discussed a potential summit between Russian, Chinese, and U.S. leaders in China next month.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that the region may have entered a new diplomatic phase. He predicted the new talks would likely occur in mid-November. Støre also addressed the issue of borders, stating that Ukraine might not formally accept the current front line as a permanent border but could potentially live with it. Meanwhile, Trump urged Zelenskyy to compromise, citing significant U.S. support and the high cost of the conflict. Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings about incoming Russian missiles from its partners.

Russian attacks continued despite the diplomatic progress. Overnight strikes in Kyiv killed three people and wounded twelve. Ten residential buildings were damaged. Energy facilities in Kyiv and three other cities were also targeted. In Kharkiv, drone explosions in a residential area killed two people and wounded eleven. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces struck a warehouse, an electrical substation, and a bulk carrier bound for Odesa. Russian air defenses also intercepted 373 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions and the Black Sea.