Russia Ready to Resume Trilateral Talks with US and Ukraine in November, Kremlin Says

Russia is prepared to resume trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine between November 10 and 19, with discussions expected to focus on establishing a post-war security framework, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Ushakov described the meeting as substantive and frank, lasting nearly three hours. He said the discussions continued an exchange of views initiated during a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump on October 9, with both sides examining possible ways to achieve a lasting and sustainable peace.

According to Ushakov, Putin praised the mediation efforts of the Trump administration, the US president personally and his special envoys in seeking mutually acceptable solutions to the conflict.

The meeting also addressed the possible resumption of trilateral negotiations involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine. Ushakov said Putin informed Witkoff that Moscow was, in principle, ready to restart the talks during the proposed November 10–19 period.

The Kremlin aide said the central issue would be developing a security framework for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. He added that Witkoff indicated Trump would welcome Moscow’s decision.

Ushakov also accused Ukraine of derailing an earlier planned resumption of trilateral talks by carrying out attacks on the main voting day of Russia’s State Duma elections. He alleged that the strikes targeted Moscow, other cities, polling stations and election commission personnel, with some staff members killed. The statement did not include an independent assessment of these allegations or a response from Kyiv.

The meeting also included a humanitarian issue. Ushakov said Putin asked Witkoff to convey his gratitude to US First Lady Melania Trump for her efforts to reunite children with their families. Putin also expressed appreciation for her mediation efforts concerning the humanitarian situation in Alyoshki, a town in Ukraine’s Kherson region that Russia claims as part of its territory.

The two sides exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation surrounding Iran. Ushakov said Russia had reaffirmed its readiness to support political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian issue.

The discussions come amid continuing international attention on regional security and efforts to prevent further escalation involving Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

Another subject was the possibility of a first-ever meeting involving the leaders of Russia, China and the United States during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.

Ushakov said Moscow, Washington and Beijing had not rejected the idea. He added that China, as the host of the summit, was already making preparations and could include the meeting in the official programme if circumstances allowed.

The Kremlin aide said Russia had also presented several practical proposals concerning the substance of the possible trilateral talks.