Zelensky: Trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks planned for early November

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a trilateral meeting of negotiating teams from Ukraine, the US, and Russia to end the war is planned for the first half of November. Zelensky made the statement on October 23 during an online Hudson Institute meeting, following phone talks with US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. He said the meeting depends on Russia, though Kyiv is ready to meet any day. Zelensky stressed that talks cannot proceed without US pressure on Russia and that Europe must be included. He also called for moving from technical-level negotiations to a leaders' summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said the talks would occur in Abu Dhabi, with Putin confirming readiness for mid-November.