Full Breakdown
Russia, the United States and Ukraine Agree to Resume Three-Way Peace Negotiations
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Kremlin foreign-affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov announced that President Vladimir Putin has agreed “in principle” to restart three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine after November 10. The agreement was reached in St Petersburg’s Constantine Palace, where U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials, including presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, met with Putin.
Background & Context
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, three rounds of trilateral negotiations have been held—twice in Abu Dhabi and once in Geneva—yielding limited progress beyond prisoner exchanges. Earlier in the week, Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo; Ushakov described those proposals as containing “little of real value” for resolving the crisis.
Timeline
- Early 2024 – Three rounds of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
- Wednesday – Witkoff’s three-hour meeting with Putin in St Petersburg; Kushner joined via video link.
- Following day – Missile alert and explosions reported over Kyiv; civilian casualties recorded.
- Mid-November (planned) – Potential leaders’ summit in China, as discussed by Putin and Witkoff.
Official Statements & Responses
Ushakov said the primary agenda is to create a post-conflict security architecture for both Russia and Ukraine and noted that large-scale joint economic projects between Russia and the United States are “nearing the implementation stage.” Putin indicated willingness to consider restoring U.S.–Russia economic ties and to use Russia’s relationship with Iran to aid peace efforts.
Zelenskyy, in an audio message, affirmed support for the U.S.
The Kremlin also announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher detained since 2022 on mercenary charges, describing the move as a goodwill gesture following a request from the United States.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The agenda is clear: to end the war, bring peace closer, and, as I understand it, prepare everything for a meeting at the leaders’ level,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- “I think we may have entered a phase now where the Russians are also looking for opportunities for diplomacy,” — Jonas Gahr Støre, Norwegian prime minister
Data & Statistics
- The war has now lasted more than 4½ years.
- Recent Russian strikes on Kyiv killed three civilians and wounded 12, damaging ten residential buildings.
- Russian air defenses intercepted 373 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and Crimea in one night.
Why It Matters
Resuming trilateral negotiations could shift the diplomatic landscape that has been dominated by bilateral talks and sanctions. The prospect of a joint economic summit in China, coupled with discussions of large-scale U.S.–Russia projects, signals a potential move toward broader geopolitical engagement. The release of an American detainee may serve as a confidence-building measure, though its impact on the overall peace process remains uncertain.
What’s Next
- Technical-level three-way talks are slated to begin mid-November, after the November 10 deadline.
- A possible leaders’ summit involving the United States, Russia and China is being prepared for the upcoming APEC forum in Shenzhen.
- Both sides have indicated that security guarantees for Ukraine and the status of occupied territories will be central topics in the forthcoming negotiations.