Why This Matters
- A return to three-way talks would put Washington directly at the table with both warring governments, a potentially significant shift in the diplomatic format around the war.
- Kyiv wants talks to begin before early November, suggesting a narrow window for any breakthrough.
- The gap between accepting a talks format and actually delivering a meeting remains wide, as the analyst's caution shows.
Background
The war in Ukraine has run since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, and repeated diplomatic efforts have failed to produce a ceasefire. Diplomatic formats have shifted over time, and the three-way structure Kyiv now supports would give the United States a direct role alongside both governments.
Key Perspectives
Ukraine: Zelensky has endorsed the US proposal and called for talks to start as soon as possible, preferably before early November, signalling Kyiv's willingness to engage at negotiator level.
Russia: The announcement is framed as Moscow agreeing to resume three-way talks, but beyond that headline Russia's intentions remain untested.
Critics and skeptics: Chatham House's Grégoire Roos doubts Putin would meet Trump and Zelensky, saying a face-to-face with Zelensky is "the last thing that Putin would be prepared to do."
What to Watch
- Whether negotiators actually convene before early November as Kyiv hopes.
- Whether talks remain at negotiator level or any direct Putin, Trump and Zelensky meeting is proposed.
- Signals from Moscow confirming or walking back the commitment to resume talks.