Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to resume US-mediated negotiations with Ukraine, according to a senior Kremlin aide. Separately, Ukraine has floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting between Putin, Trump, and President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kiev suggested the summit could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China next month.
“Our president informed Steve Witkoff that we are ready in principle to resume the above-mentioned trilateral talks around November 10 on the main subject,” Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, said on Wednesday. “This topic is about building a security system for Russia and Ukraine.”
The possibility of a trilateral meeting between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky was floated by Ukraine. Kiev suggested the trilateral summit could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China next month.
On Monday, the Kremlin suggested a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin proposed the meeting to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine objected to a trilateral meeting, arguing that Trump should meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, “A trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the US, and Russia could help end the war sooner. A trilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia, China, and the US would do only the opposite: encourage Putin to continue this war.”
However, the Kremlin says it is eyeing the UAE as the location for talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and American negotiators. “We are focusing on Abu Dhabi,” Ushakov explained.
Trump pledged to end the war in Ukraine on his first day in the White House, but has been frustrated with his inability to get Kiev and Moscow to compromise. He has recently lashed out at Zelensky for continuing to attack Russian energy infrastructure.
