Russia willing to resume peace talks with Ukraine, US after Witkoff visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled his willingness to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv in the coming month, aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin official. This announcement comes after a meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who serves under President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg.

The talks will center on establishing a security framework for Russia and Ukraine once the conflict concludes, stated Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov. Witkoff's discussions with Putin focused on the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, taking place as the U.S. pushed Kyiv to negotiate a cease-fire deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has maintained that only a summit of world leaders could break the deadlock. The Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to clash on the battlefield, with daily long-range strikes being exchanged between the two nations. Three rounds of negotiations involving representatives from all three countries were held earlier this year, with sessions in Abu Dhabi in January and February, followed by additional discussions in Geneva.