US envoy: next round of Russia-Ukraine talks could take place in mid-November
After US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin on 21 October, three-way talks on Ukraine could resume in early to mid-November. Ukraine backs the idea, and Abu Dhabi has been named as a possible venue.
Russia, Ukraine and the United States could resume three-way talks on ending the war in the first third of November. This became clear after US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on 21 October. Ukraine supports the proposal, and on 22 October reports emerged that the talks could be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
What Moscow said after the meeting
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, told journalists that Putin had told Witkoff Russia was in principle ready to restart the trilateral negotiations in the first ten days of November. The main topic would be building security for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. According to Ushakov, the American representative noted that Trump would undoubtedly welcome such a decision with great satisfaction.
The only tangible result of the visit was the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 75-year-old American. Russian forces detained him in the Kharkiv region early in the war, he was accused of mercenary activity and sentenced to almost seven years in prison. The plane carrying Hubbard has landed safely in the United States.
Reaction from Kyiv and the Kremlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv supports a trilateral meeting at the level of the negotiating teams, which the US side wants held as soon as possible. He said Ukraine would back proposals for a ceasefire, an end to the war, an energy truce or any other truce, as well as humanitarian initiatives and the return of prisoners.
The Kremlin press secretary said he had heard no statement indicating that Kyiv agreed to talks. He also noted growing activity in several European capitals trying to understand what is happening, which he described as a positive fact.
Trump on sanctions
Trump said the US and Russia are negotiating over Ukraine and may be close to a deal, so imposing sanctions now would not be advisable. At a campaign rally in South Carolina on 21 October, he claimed to have settled eight conflicts and to be close to ending two more: Russia and Ukraine, and Iran.
