3 Hours: The Length of Putin and Witkoff's St. Petersburg Meeting

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to restart three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv, a move that could lead to the first such talks since February. The Kremlin announced Wednesday that these discussions are scheduled to resume after November 10. This development follows a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, which concluded with a tentative plan to end the war.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, told reporters that the Russian leader agreed to the talks 'in principle.' The primary goal of these upcoming sessions is to build a security system for both nations once the conflict concludes. This diplomatic push comes as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal that stops the fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the rapid restart, stating in an audio message that the agenda is clear: to end the war and prepare for a meeting at the leaders' level.

However, the path to peace remains complicated by recent frustrations. Ushakov noted that proposals from a recent meeting in Oslo contained little of real value, though he later described them as a step in the right direction. During the St. Petersburg talks, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who joined via video, proposed a technical level three-way meeting. They also discussed a postwar economic plan and European security. Ushakov added that large-scale joint economic projects between the U.S. and Russia were discussed in detail, with some nearing the implementation stage.

The diplomatic efforts are happening against a backdrop of continued violence. Shortly after Zelenskyy issued his message, a missile alert sounded over Kyiv, accompanied by loud explosions. Ukrainian officials reported that overnight attacks killed five people and wounded at least 23 others. Energy facilities in Kyiv and three other cities were targeted, while the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces struck a warehouse, a substation, and a bulk carrier near Odesa. Moscow also reported intercepting 373 Ukrainian drones overnight.

In a gesture of goodwill, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on mercenary charges. Witkoff said the release appeared to be a response to Trump asking Putin to free him. Meanwhile, Putin met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is in St. Petersburg for broader talks. The two leaders also discussed a potential economic summit in China involving Russian, Chinese, and U.S. leaders next month.

U.S. President Trump continued to press for compromise, telling reporters at the White House that the U.S. wants Zelenskyy to make a deal. He warned that if an agreement is not reached, it could lead to a very bad outcome. Relations between the two leaders have soured recently, with Trump noting that the U.S. has given much to Ukraine but received little in return. Zelenskyy responded by noting that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings about incoming missiles, a change from recent strikes that occurred without sufficient notice from allies.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who met with Witkoff after his return from Russia, suggested that a new diplomatic phase may have begun. He believes the new talks are likely to occur in mid-November. When asked about the possibility of Ukraine accepting a border along the current front line, Støre said he does not think Ukraine will formally accept it, but added that living with the arrangement is a different matter.