Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to restart trilateral peace negotiations with the United States and Ukraine after November 10, following discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the development after the nearly three-hour meeting, saying future negotiations would focus on establishing a security framework for Russia and Ukraine once the conflict ends.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration intensifies diplomatic efforts to end the war, which has continued for more than four and a half years. Despite previous negotiations, Moscow and Kyiv remain divided over key demands, including territorial control and security guarantees.
Earlier this year, representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the United States participated in three rounds of negotiations in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. However, those discussions produced limited progress beyond prisoner exchanges.
Witkoff’s meeting with Putin followed talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo on Tuesday. The U.S. envoy expressed cautious optimism about renewed diplomatic efforts, suggesting that negotiations were beginning to gain momentum.
Zelenskyy has maintained that a meeting between national leaders is necessary to overcome the diplomatic deadlock. In an interview broadcast Wednesday, he suggested that freezing the conflict along existing lines could provide a starting point for ending the war.
The discussions in St. Petersburg also included Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, while Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner participated remotely.
Beyond Ukraine, Putin expressed interest in restoring economic relations with Washington and discussing the ongoing U.S.-led conflict involving Iran. The Russian president indicated that Moscow could use its relationship with Tehran to support diplomatic efforts.
Witkoff also welcomed Russia’s decision to lift restrictions on diesel exports, arguing that the move could help reduce fuel costs for American farmers and transportation operators.
In another development, Russia released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned on charges of serving as a mercenary in Ukraine. The release followed a request from Trump and appeared to signal a goodwill gesture from Moscow.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre suggested that the latest diplomatic exchanges could mark a new phase in negotiations, with Russia potentially showing greater willingness to explore a political settlement.
However, significant obstacles remain. Trump increased pressure on Zelenskyy during remarks at the White House on Tuesday, urging the Ukrainian president to reach an agreement with Moscow and criticizing the financial and human costs of continued American involvement.
Meanwhile, fighting continues despite diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian attacks overnight killed five people and injured at least 25 others in Kyiv and the Kharkiv region.
Russian strikes also targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and three other cities, while residential buildings sustained damage. Moscow, meanwhile, claimed its forces had struck Ukrainian military and energy-related targets.
Russia’s Defence Ministry also reported intercepting 373 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, Crimea and the Black Sea. The attacks followed a major Ukrainian drone offensive that reportedly targeted Russian oil facilities and infrastructure in St. Petersburg earlier in the week.
Although Trump announced an agreement earlier this month to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, both countries have continued targeting energy-related facilities.
With Witkoff expected to return to Oslo for further consultations, attention is now turning to whether renewed negotiations can produce meaningful progress toward a ceasefire and a broader settlement.
