Russian Official: Moscow Ready to Resume Trilateral Negotiations on Ukraine on Nov. 10 and Establish Post-Conflict Security System

Moscow, October 21 (KUNA) -- Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov announced on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin informed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff of Moscow’s readiness to resume trilateral negotiations on a Ukrainian settlement on November 10. Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Ushakov as clarifying that this came during a meeting held in Saint Petersburg, which discussed the prospects for a political settlement and economic relations between Moscow and Washington. He added that the main issue Moscow is preparing to negotiate is establishing a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.

Ushakov noted that the meeting marked the ninth contact between President Putin and U.S. negotiators, emphasizing that both sides continued exchanging views on ways to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine, based on what was reached during the last phone conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. He added that Putin and Witkoff assessed the dialogue process between Russia and the United States and discussed in detail the feasibility of implementing large-scale economic projects between the two countries, as some of these projects are on the verge of launching.

Ushakov clarified that the situation in Ukraine was the main topic of the talks, noting that Putin presented the envoy with what he described as an objective picture of the situation along the contact line, stressing that the field initiative lies entirely in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces.

Regarding the negotiation track, Ushakov said Putin informed Witkoff of Russia’s readiness to resume trilateral negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement on November 10, adding that the U.S. envoy indicated this decision would be warmly welcomed by President Trump. He further stated that the resumption of trilateral negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement was thwarted by Kyiv itself, according to his remarks, and noted that Witkoff spoke during the meeting about new approaches adopted by Europeans and the Ukrainian side in efforts to settle the conflict, although, in his assessment, these approaches do not include many beneficial aspects.

Ushakov mentioned that Witkoff briefed Putin on the essence of talks held in Oslo within the framework of diplomatic communications related to the Ukrainian file.

On the level of bilateral relations, Ushakov reported that Putin and Witkoff discussed the possibility of implementing large-scale economic projects between Russia and the United States, emphasizing that some of these projects are close to the launch stage.

These comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, amid divergent positions on the conditions for ending it and the security and political arrangements that could govern the post-conflict phase, with Moscow proposing the establishment of a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict as the main axis of the negotiations it intends to resume. (End) D.A.N. / M.A.A.