Andrea Innocenti During a lengthy meeting lasting over three hours in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed US envoy Steve Witkoff of Russia's willingness to restart trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine around November 10. Also present at the meeting were Moscow adviser Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Investment Representative Kirill Dmitriev, and, via remote link, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump.
Moscow's priorities: security guarantees and a possible headquarters in Abu Dhabi
Ushakov emphasized that, in principle, Russia intends to focus future negotiations on establishing a security system for both countries after the end of hostilities. The territorial issue remains open, but security is described as a "focal point" for any agreement.
Among the locations being considered, the Kremlin has mentioned Abu Dhabi as a possible venue for the talks, with the aim of holding the meeting in mid-November.
Prospect of an APEC summit in Shenzhen
In parallel, Russian authorities have put forward the idea of including a meeting between the leaders of Russia, China and the United States in the agenda of the next APEC summit , scheduled for Shenzhen in November.
The initiative, still under discussion, has not been rejected by any of the capitals involved.
Kiev, Washington and the proposals to freeze the front
Ukraine, through President Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed support for resuming negotiations as soon as possible. At a press conference, the president suggested that freezing the front lines could be the first step toward a ceasefire, calling it a "concrete way to stop the war." Zelensky also expressed his willingness to establish a clear agenda: ending the conflict, moving closer to peace, and preparing for a meeting between leaders.
US position and political pressure
US President Donald Trump has stated that he believes the two sides are "closer than ever" to ending hostilities. According to internal sources, the United States is aiming for an agreement by the end of 2026, possibly intensifying pressure on Kiev to obtain a concession from Moscow. Trump has also suggested that the G20 summit , scheduled for December, could become a decisive opportunity for the signing of a peace agreement, even at the cost of significantly influencing Ukraine's position.
These moves have raised concerns in Kiev, where unidentified officials have complained that negotiations could proceed "without our participation," fearing a possible division of the territory into spheres of influence. Western analysts have highlighted the risk that an agreement between the major powers could undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and strengthen a new geopolitical divide.