Zelensky says Russia open to talks, cites possible winter de-escalation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has signaled willingness to negotiate, citing a possible reduction in hostilities before or during the Northern Hemisphere winter, based on information from U.S. envoys. Zelensky told Axios that Vladimir Putin "needs Trump" and wants to avoid irritating him ahead of November's U.S. midterm elections. Washington's proposals reportedly include de-escalation ideas covering energy, grains, electricity, oil, and gas, sectors where both countries attack each other's infrastructure. Russia typically intensifies strikes on Ukraine's energy grid each winter, while Kyiv has expanded attacks on Russian refineries, causing fuel shortages. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Monday the trip yielded "significant" progress toward organizing trilateral talks to end the war, which began with Russia's February 2022 invasion.