US Proposes Tripartite Talks with Russia and Ukraine, Including Trump

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will propose direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and former U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. The proposal, announced after talks in Norway between Zelenskyy and Witkoff, comes amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. president, following Trump’s criticism of Ukraine's war efforts. Zelenskyy met with Witkoff and European officials in Oslo seeking to avoid a further diplomatic rupture with Trump.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated Witkoff will travel to St. Petersburg Wednesday to present peace terms and potentially “pave the way for a meeting at leaders’ level.” Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace settlement must involve Ukraine in its design and include genuine security guarantees, and that issues regarding Ukrainian territory can only be discussed by leaders. Previous attempts to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy have failed, with the Kremlin previously insisting any such meeting would have to take place in Moscow.

Støre described the talks in Oslo as “good and constructive, necessary after events of the last week.” Zelenskyy characterized the day as positive. The proposal for a three-way summit represents the first such effort since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

What is not yet known

• Whether Putin and Trump will accept the invitation to participate in the proposed talks.
• The specific details of the peace terms Witkoff will present to Russia.

Background

• US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have experienced a growing rift, with Zelenskyy accusing the US of hindering military aid and technology access [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-20].
• Trump has publicly criticized Zelenskyy’s handling of the war and indicated a willingness to negotiate a resolution with Russia and China, potentially without Ukrainian involvement [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-20].
• Previous attempts to arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy have been unsuccessful, with the Kremlin previously demanding any meeting take place in Moscow [background knowledge].
• Recent drone attacks off the coast of Bulgaria have raised suspicions of Russian involvement, prompting an investigation and diplomatic responses [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-13].

Our reading

Our reading is that the proposed tripartite talks represent a desperate attempt to break the stalemate in Ukraine, leveraging Trump’s stated willingness to negotiate and potentially circumventing Zelenskyy’s concerns about US support. The inclusion of Trump, despite his strained relationship with Zelenskyy, suggests a belief that his involvement could unlock a pathway to ceasefire discussions. The fact that this proposal follows talks in Norway and is being presented via a special envoy indicates a concerted effort to establish a dialogue, even if the chances of success remain uncertain.

What to watch

• Whether Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump publicly accept or reject the invitation to participate in the proposed talks by Witkoff’s stated Wednesday deadline [article text].
• The specific details of the “peace terms” Steve Witkoff presents to Russia in St. Petersburg, and whether they align with Zelenskyy’s stated requirements of territorial integrity and security guarantees [article text].
• Any public statements from Zelenskyy, Putin, or Trump regarding the proposal in the coming days, which could indicate their level of seriousness and potential red lines [article text].

Беше ли полезно? 👍 0 👎 0

---

Прочетете оригиналното отразяване