Putin and Zelenskyy Both Back US-Mediated Three-Way Ukraine Peace Talks

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, US special envoy Steve Witkoff shuttled between St. Petersburg and Oslo on October 21–22, holding face-to-face meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy respectively. Both leaders expressed support for resuming three-way US-mediated peace talks on ending a war now in its fifth year. Putin signalled his willingness 'in principle' to engage in trilateral negotiations, while Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine's readiness to participate. The Kremlin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov noted that some of Ukraine's proposals did not fully satisfy Moscow, but talks are being targeted for early November, with a mid-November deadline and Abu Dhabi floated as a possible venue. The push comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on both sides to reach a settlement. Ukraine and Russia remain substantially divided on core peace terms, including territorial questions and security guarantees, but the mutual agreement to meet marks the most concrete diplomatic movement in months.