Putin agrees to three-way talks with Ukraine and U.S. in November

President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume three‑way talks with Ukraine and the United States, a move announced on Wednesday as diplomatic channels reopen after months of stalled negotiations. The talks are expected to involve senior negotiators from each side and could begin as early as the first week of November, according to officials in Kyiv.

The renewed push follows a U.S. proposal that seeks to bring the three parties back to the table to discuss a pathway to end the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Kyiv welcomed the idea, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying Ukraine backs the initiative and wants the negotiations to start “as soon as possible, preferably no later than early November.” The timing reflects growing fatigue on the battlefield and mounting international pressure for a diplomatic solution before the winter season deepens the humanitarian crisis.

Nevertheless, experts caution that the talks may face significant hurdles. Grégoire Roos, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House, told France 24 that it is still unclear whether Putin will sit down with both President Trump and President Zelenskiy. Roos noted that meeting Zelenskiy is “the last thing” Putin is likely to agree to, given the Russian leader’s longstanding reluctance to recognize the Ukrainian president as an equal partner in negotiations. The comment underscores the fragile nature of any agreement and the possibility that the discussions could stall before reaching the highest political levels.

If the negotiations move forward, they could reshape the war’s trajectory and influence global security arrangements. A November start would give diplomats a narrow window to draft proposals before the harsh winter limits battlefield movements and further strains civilian resources. Success would hinge on whether all sides can find common ground on cease‑fire terms, humanitarian aid, and the status of occupied territories. Failure, however, could entrench the stalemate and push the conflict into a longer, more costly phase for both Russia and Ukraine.