Talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US are planned to resume in November in Abu Dhabi. Russia signaled readiness after Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Both Putin and Zelenskyy said they were open to negotiations. Both sides kept up strikes overnight.
Why it matters: Restarted talks offer a path toward ending a war that has killed many and disrupted European energy and food markets.
President Zelensky and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said technical-level talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US would resume in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November, after Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Putin said Russia was ready to discuss a final agreement, not a short truce. Strikes continued, with the UN reporting at least 14 civilians killed in Russian attacks overnight into Thursday.
Why it matters: Resumed talks are the latest attempt to end Europe's largest war, which continues to kill civilians.
Russia struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones overnight into Thursday, hours after Vladimir Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg that Moscow was ready in principle to resume trilateral talks. Ukrainian authorities reported seven people killed in the strikes and at least nine over 24 hours, while Moscow said it downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones, with reported figures of 630 and 808. President Zelensky said the attacks showed no real change in Russia's attitude toward the war.
Why it matters: The strikes come as the US seeks to restart negotiations that Putin said could resume on or after November 10.
Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, after which the Kremlin said Russia was ready in principle to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine from mid-November. Moscow said it would consider US economic proposals but not make political concessions, and a Kremlin aide said a Putin-Xi-Trump summit was being prepared. Witkoff described Putin as a humanitarian, a remark criticized by some commentators.
Why it matters: A resumption of direct talks would be the first formal three-way negotiation on ending the war in months, with implications for European security and energy sanctions.
President Trump said he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in China and said it was time for someone else to negotiate on Ukraine's behalf. Several Republican lawmakers, including Nebraska congressman Don Bacon, criticized his approach to Russia, citing a diesel deal and a pause in sanctions. Ukraine and Russia exchanged large drone and missile strikes over the weekend.
Why it matters: A summit of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders on Ukraine could shape the terms of any settlement without Kyiv at the table.
Trump said he suspended sweeping new sanctions on Russia, mandated by the Graham law, to keep peace talks alive, and claimed Zelenskyy does not want to end the war. Zelenskyy called the waiver wrong and spoke with US envoys; polls show Trump's approval at a record low.
Why it matters: Lifting pressure on Moscow could shift the balance of the war and affect Russian energy flows.
President Trump signed an order temporarily waiving many Russia sanctions recently passed by Congress, citing national security; Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a 60-day pause to assess global impact, including tariffs on countries such as India. Zelenskyy called the move a boost for Putin and urged support for the sanctions, while at least eight Republican senators criticised the waiver or a related Russian diesel deal.
Why it matters: Easing pressure on Moscow could shift the war's dynamics and affects trade partners hit by secondary tariffs.
President Trump signed an executive order pausing parts of a sweeping new sanctions package aimed at Russia's economy, saying they run against US national interests and citing energy prices. The move came two days before a sanctions deadline and a week after a diesel deal with Moscow.