Russia signals readiness to resume Ukraine peace talks after Putin-Witkoff meeting

Russia has signaled readiness to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the US, following a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. A new round could occur next month. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia is "ready in principle" for talks, possibly around 10 November in Abu Dhabi. The US proposed a trilateral technical-level meeting, which Ukraine and Russia accepted, though Ushakov dismissed ideas from Witkoff's Oslo meetings as not "useful". Talks were suspended in February, with Russia citing Ukrainian strikes during its elections. Putin claimed Russian forces hold a "strategic initiative" on the front, a claim Ukraine and European allies dispute amid a stalemate. Tensions persist over US statements on Ukraine's leadership.