Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume trilateral peace talks with Ukraine and the United States on ending the war in Ukraine.
Sources in the Russian president’s Kremlin said these talks will begin after the 10th of next month.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met and spoke in person with President Putin on Wednesday at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. In this consultation, which lasted about three hours, the resumption of the next round of talks to bring an end to the war in Ukraine was discussed in detail.
In this meeting, President Putin expressed his gratitude for the efforts being made by President Trump and his delegation to end the war. In addition, American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned in Russia, was released on humanitarian grounds.
Following the Norway meeting...: Earlier, his meeting with President Putin took place after Steve Witkoff held consultations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Steve Witkoff noted that the Oslo meeting was constructive and that significant progress had been made in peace efforts.
Ukraine’s stubbornness and Trump’s firmness: Although Russia has come forward for peace talks with Ukraine, a large gap still remains in the conditions between the two countries. Ukrainian President Zelensky has said that the minimum starting point for ending the war can only be an immediate halt to the fighting. He pointed out that Ukraine’s future security, the occupied territories, and the terms of a ceasefire need to be discussed.
In this context, speaking to reporters in Washington, U.S. President Trump said, “Ukraine must come to a compromise agreement to bring the war to an immediate end. Since the United States has provided Ukraine with substantial financial aid and assistance, ending the war is the only way to prevent loss of life and economic losses. Zelensky must agree to this,” he stated firmly.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the matter, “Although Russia is ready to hear the United States’ new peace proposals, no major miracles can be expected immediately.” Similarly, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has expressed confidence that a new platform for talks between the two countries is emerging.
Ongoing attacks: While efforts for peace talks are intensifying on one hand, attacks by both sides on the ground have not subsided. In Russian air and drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the Kharkiv region, 5 people were killed and more than 25 were injured. The Ukrainian side has said that several residential buildings and power stations were severely damaged.
On the other hand, the Russian Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed 373 drones launched by Ukraine overnight. As Ukraine continues to carry out intense attacks targeting oil storage depots in regions including Saint Petersburg, the resumption of these trilateral talks has raised hopes for peace.
Diesel exports to the United States from today
Based on the agreement reached with the United States, Russia will send the first diesel cargo ship for that country on Thursday (Oct. 22), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.
He said that the documentation work for this ship, which is carrying 40,000 metric tons of diesel, is nearing completion, and that diesel and fertilizers will be sent in additional ships one after another in accordance with the needs of the United States.
Earlier, during talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, President Putin confirmed this information and also pointed out that this agreement has reduced diesel prices in the international market by 5 to 6 percent.