Russia has indicated it is prepared to resume trilateral peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in mid-November, following a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. US President Donald Trump described the diplomatic effort as the closest it had been to ending the war, although Moscow cautioned that a breakthrough remained uncertain.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Wednesday that Russia was, in principle, ready to restart the three-way negotiations after the US midterm elections. He added that Moscow wanted discussions to focus on security arrangements following the war.

Witkoff met Putin in Saint Petersburg for approximately three hours, with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner participating remotely. The envoy had travelled to Russia after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, where discussions aimed to ease recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

Ushakov said Witkoff briefed Putin on proposals discussed with Ukrainian and European representatives but argued that they contained little substantive progress. The Kremlin has continued to resist key elements of proposed peace arrangements.

Following the meeting, Witkoff described the discussions as constructive while acknowledging that significant work remained. He said technical-level discussions involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia would continue.

Prisoner release and sanctions discussions

During the meeting, Witkoff praised Putin for agreeing to release Stephen Hubbard, an American in his 70s who had been detained in Russia after being accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. Hubbard had denied the allegations.

Trump later defended his decision to delay additional sanctions against Russia, saying tougher measures could have jeopardized Hubbard’s release.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has confirmed its willingness to resume trilateral negotiations. Zelensky said Kyiv supported holding the meeting as soon as possible.

Despite the diplomatic activity, fighting continues. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes killed at least four people, including two in Kyiv and an elderly couple in the Kharkiv region. Russian-installed authorities in occupied Luhansk separately reported that a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people.

The renewed diplomatic effort comes amid continuing disagreements over territory, postwar security and the terms of any settlement. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and previous negotiations have yet to produce a lasting agreement.