Putin agrees to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks on post-war security

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month to end the war in Ukraine, marking the first such negotiations since February. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks will focus on building a post-conflict security system for both nations. The agreement came after a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo. Ushakov said Moscow isn't "fully satisfied" with recent proposals but views them as a step in the right direction, while Witkoff cited "some degree of momentum." The talks follow more than 4½ years of war with no significant peace progress, as both sides continue daily long-range strikes. Zelenskyy said freezing the conflict is the "minimum" required, while Trump pressed Kyiv to make a deal, warning of "a very bad thing" if no agreement is reached.