Kyiv is preparing for the resumption of three-sided peace talks involving Russia and the United States in October, according to Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. U.S. envoys recently visited Moscow and Kyiv, noting new momentum for discussions.
The potential resumption of peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States could signal a shift in diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, with implications for regional stability and global energy and commodity markets.
Kyiv is preparing for the potential resumption of three-sided peace talks with Russia and the United States in October, according to Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Budanov was quoted by Ukrainian media on Saturday saying that Ukraine was readying itself for the prospect of new discussions.
This comes after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in both Moscow and Kyiv, marking their first visit to the Russian capital since February and their first to the Ukrainian capital. Witkoff stated that they welcomed new momentum in proceeding with talks. President Zelenskiy indicated that the envoys had presented "very decent, worthwhile ideas" and suggested that a new meeting could be hosted by Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, or other countries.
The last three-sided meeting took place in Geneva in February, with U.S.-led diplomatic efforts having stalled due to Washington's focus on the conflict with Iran. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow does not rule out a resumption of peace talks but added that it was too early to say when and where such talks might take place. Significant differences remain between the two sides regarding how to end the war, particularly concerning the fate of Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas region.