Putin and U.S. Agree to Resume Trilateral Ukraine Talks
Vladimir Putin announced the resumption of trilateral contacts with the U.S. to discuss European security while maintaining that Russia will achieve all military goals in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on October 23, 2026, that Russia and the United States have agreed to resume trilateral contacts to establish security for Russia and Ukraine following a final peace agreement. The decision followed extensive discussions between Putin and U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff, with the goal of initiating a broader dialogue on the European security architecture.
In a television interview on October 22, Putin denied that Russia is preparing for war with Europe, dismissing such claims as political schizophrenia. He asserted that defeating Russia on the battlefield is impossible and claimed that between 300,000 and 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted. While expressing a readiness to resume diplomatic contacts, Putin rejected the idea of territorial concessions, stating that disputed areas are historically Russian.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized a perceived softening of the U.S. position toward Russia. Speaking to CNN, Zelenskyy opposed any lifting of sanctions against Putin, arguing that such a move would make the Russian leader stronger. Zelenskyy further alleged that Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles and cluster warheads.
Despite the diplomatic opening, Putin maintained that all objectives of the special military operation will be achieved regardless of the Ukrainian leadership's position.
