Russia Signals Readiness for Ukraine Talks After Duma Elections

Russia may be ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine after the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18-20, according to French media reports citing US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner following their visit to Moscow. The Elysee Palace stated that during a meeting with European officials in Kyiv, the American representatives conveyed Russia's new approach to talks, saying preparations should begin for resuming the negotiation process after the Duma elections. Witkoff and Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 5, then traveled to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reporting "significant progress" on organizing future trilateral negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow does not rule out resuming talks in a Russia-Ukraine-US format, though specific dates and locations remain undetermined.