Russia names new peace talks date: 4 hidden motives for Putin's delay

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that Moscow is ready to resume trilateral talks with Kyiv and Washington in the second decade of November, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. The proposed timing aligns with the APEC summit in mid-November, allowing the Kremlin to coordinate diplomatic tracks and prepare for potential Putin meetings with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Moscow also needs time to study US proposals Witkoff brought from consultations in Oslo with Ukrainian and European partners. The delay also follows US midterm elections on November 3 and gives Moscow a tactical pause to avoid hasty commitments while demonstrating willingness to continue dialogue. The last trilateral technical-level talks occurred in Geneva on February 18, 2026, before being suspended after the US-Israeli operation against Iran.