Putin agrees to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume US-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine, potentially starting next month, following a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The talks, the ninth face-to-face meeting between Witkoff and Putin, included Russia's release of detained American Stephen Hubbard as a goodwill gesture. The Kremlin said technical-level trilateral negotiations could begin in Abu Dhabi from November 10, focusing on security guarantees for both nations. The meeting occurred amid Ukrainian concerns that the US is distancing itself, including withholding real-time intelligence. Putin also offered help on Iran and discussed a potential Trump-Xi meeting in China, though Kremlin officials expressed dissatisfaction with recent Ukraine talks in Oslo.