Putin agrees to resume Ukraine peace talks after Nov 10, Kremlin says summit with Trump and Xi 'being prepared'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine after November 10, according to Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. The development follows a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, as Washington steps up efforts to secure an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday that the proposed negotiations would focus on "building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends". The talks would mark a resumption of the three-way diplomatic process, which has been stalled since February amid disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv. According to Ushakov, Witkoff briefed Putin on his discussions in Oslo on Tuesday, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The diplomatic push comes as Russian and Ukrainian forces continue attacks on each other's energy infrastructure. Trump has been pressing Kyiv to reach a deal to end the fighting, while tensions have also emerged over Ukraine's long-range strikes against Russian energy facilities. Putin-Witkoff meeting lasts three hours The meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted three hours, with discussions covering the Ukraine conflict, a diesel-supply arrangement between Moscow and Washington, and the situation involving Iran, according to the Kremlin. Ushakov said Putin believed diplomacy remained a viable option for resolving the crisis involving Tehran. "Vladimir Putin emphasised that the potential for diplomacy is far from exhausted and that it is both possible and necessary to reach agreements with Tehran, which is our strategic partner," Ushakov said. The meeting also addressed the implementation of a diesel-supply deal agreed upon by Putin and Trump on October 9. Witkoff thanked the Russian president for lifting Russia's ban on diesel exports, saying the move would help reduce prices for American farmers and truckers. Trump's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports marks a shift in Washington's approach as energy prices rise ahead of the US midterm elections in November. The move has also drawn criticism from some US lawmakers. Witkoff had earlier said there was "some degree of momentum" in the peace efforts. Norway sees possible opening for diplomacy Witkoff is expected to return to Oslo for further consultations following his visit to Russia, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. "I think we may have entered a phase now where the Russians are also looking for opportunities for diplomacy," Støre said. The latest diplomatic contacts come as Trump has publicly criticised Zelenskyy over Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Trump said the strikes were contributing to higher fuel prices and suggested that Zelenskyy should be replaced as president. The proposed resumption of trilateral talks would bring Washington, Moscow and Kyiv back to a negotiating format that has remained inactive since February. However, the Kremlin's announcement establishes only Putin's agreement in principle to resume discussions after November 10, rather than a confirmed date or a final agreement on the terms of negotiations. Putin-Trump-Xi Summit being prepared Separately, Ushakov said preparations were under way for a possible trilateral meeting involving Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The stated aim is to hold the meeting alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen next month. "A possible first-ever meeting of the leaders of China, Russia and the United States... is being prepared," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding that the aim was to include the meeting in the programme of the Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen next month. According to The Wall Street Journal, Putin was the first to suggest a summit involving Trump and Xi to discuss an end to the four-year-old Ukraine conflict on terms favourable to Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions were under way about a potential meeting. "There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place," Peskov told the newspaper. Trump has not publicly confirmed the proposed summit. The possible meeting would bring together the leaders of Russia, the United States and China at a time when Washington is pursuing renewed negotiations over Ukraine. However, the timing, agenda and participation arrangements remain unsettled, according to the Kremlin's statements.