Zelensky Pushes for Ukraine-Russia-US Peace Negotiations by Early November

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed support for a new round of trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States, hoping the meeting can take place by early November. The proposed talks are part of Washington’s renewed efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow back to the negotiating table and explore a possible path towards ending the war.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday as he returned to Kyiv from Norway, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to participate in discussions at the level of negotiating teams. He added that the United States had proposed holding the meeting as soon as possible and that Kyiv supported the initiative.

According to Zelensky, Ukrainian officials had received feedback from their American counterparts following a meeting between US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. The discussions reportedly indicated that Moscow was prepared to support a trilateral meeting involving negotiating representatives from all three countries.

“The American side has proposed holding it as soon as possible and we support that,” Zelensky said, adding that he hoped the meeting would take place no later than early November. He acknowledged, however, that the final dates had not yet been confirmed and that the outcome did not depend entirely on Ukraine.

Witkoff’s Meetings With Putin and Zelensky

The latest diplomatic initiative follows a series of discussions involving Witkoff, who has been working to advance the US administration’s efforts to end the conflict.

Witkoff met Zelensky and European representatives in Norway before travelling to St Petersburg to meet Putin on Wednesday. During the meeting with the Russian president, the US envoy briefed him on the discussions held in Norway and conveyed information about the positions of Ukraine and its European partners.

The sequence of meetings has raised hopes of restarting negotiations after previous diplomatic efforts made limited progress. The proposed trilateral format would bring representatives of Kyiv, Moscow and Washington together to discuss the next steps towards ending the war.

Zelensky said Ukraine had remained in contact with its American partners following Witkoff’s meeting with Putin. He expressed hope that the United States would help arrange the negotiations quickly, while stressing that progress would also depend on Russia following through on its stated willingness to participate.

The Kremlin had earlier indicated that Putin was prepared to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine as soon as next month. Russian officials have also suggested that a meeting between negotiating teams could take place before any potential meeting involving the countries’ leaders.

Ukraine Calls for Ceasefire and Humanitarian Measures

Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to support a range of proposals aimed at reducing hostilities and improving conditions for civilians affected by the war.

These include a broader ceasefire, an agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and humanitarian initiatives. Ukraine has also emphasised the importance of returning prisoners of war and pursuing diplomatic channels that could lead to a lasting settlement.

An energy ceasefire could be particularly significant because attacks on energy infrastructure can disrupt electricity supplies and essential services. An agreement to limit such attacks could help protect civilian facilities and reduce some of the immediate consequences of the conflict.

Humanitarian measures, meanwhile, could provide opportunities to address issues affecting civilians and prisoners. However, any such arrangements would require agreement between the parties and a mechanism to ensure that commitments are implemented.

Zelensky’s statements indicate that Ukraine is willing to engage with proposals from Washington, although the precise terms of any ceasefire or peace agreement remain unclear.

US Efforts to Revive Peace Process

The proposed talks come as Washington seeks to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Previous rounds of US-mediated discussions have failed to produce a lasting agreement, with the two sides continuing to disagree over the conditions required to end the war.

The latest diplomatic effort follows concerns in Kyiv and among Ukraine’s European allies about the future of American support. Zelensky’s meetings with US representatives and European officials in Norway were part of broader discussions about the conflict and possible ways to move towards negotiations.

For Washington, a trilateral meeting at the negotiating-team level could provide an opportunity to clarify each side’s position, identify areas where agreement may be possible and prepare the ground for discussions involving senior leaders.

However, support for holding talks does not necessarily mean that Russia and Ukraine have reached an understanding on the central issues in the conflict. Significant differences remain over the terms of a potential settlement, and the proposed meeting’s agenda and location have not been finalised.

Next Steps Remain Uncertain

Zelensky said Ukraine would work with its American partners to arrange the meeting as soon as possible, with early November serving as the preferred timeframe. The Kremlin’s stated willingness to resume negotiations provides a potential opening for renewed diplomacy, but the process remains at an early stage.

The immediate priority is to confirm the date, format and agenda for the proposed discussions. If the meeting proceeds, negotiators will face the challenge of turning broad statements in favour of peace into concrete proposals on ending hostilities, protecting civilians and addressing the outstanding issues between Moscow and Kyiv.

For now, Ukraine has signalled that it is ready to participate in the US-backed initiative. Whether the renewed diplomatic effort leads to meaningful progress will depend on the willingness of all three countries to engage in substantive negotiations and follow through on any agreements reached.