Putin Agrees to Resume Ukraine Peace Talks With US

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine and the United States, following a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The Kremlin stated talks could begin mid-next month, focusing on a post-war security system for both countries. The negotiations, potentially hosted in Abu Dhabi, would mark the first trilateral talks since earlier this year, when discussions collapsed over disagreements on territorial concessions and security guarantees. Witkoff presented peace proposals during the three-hour meeting, with Jared Kushner participating via video link. Putin also offered US assistance on Iran, fertilizer supplies, and released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard as a goodwill gesture. Ukraine's President Zelensky responded positively to the initiative, emphasizing the importance of trilateral talks, while a separate Russian diesel deal with the US has strained US-Ukraine relations.