Putin Open to Talks with US and Ukraine, Denies Kyiv's Territorial Claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine following a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff, while simultaneously denying Ukraine's territorial integrity over Russian-occupied regions. Putin stated agreement to restart three-way contacts, with advisor Yuri Ushakov suggesting new negotiations for mid-November. The talks would address security guarantees for both countries after a final peace agreement, not a temporary ceasefire, which Putin again rejected. Witkoff had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials before seeing Putin in St. Petersburg. Putin claimed Witkoff raised the topic of European security in future discussions, which Putin said he agreed with in principle. He reiterated that occupied eastern Ukrainian territories belong to "historical Russia," repeating his accusation that Ukraine, not Russia, wants the war.