Ukraine Peace Talks: Another Attempt at a Trilateral Round as the War Grinds On

More than four and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine continues, and so does the search for a diplomatic exit. In September, Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Ukraine was preparing to resume trilateral talks with Russia and the United States in October. The Kremlin said it did not rule out such a round in the foreseeable future, though it gave no date or venue.

Washington Tries to Restart the Process

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently held talks in Moscow, their first visit there since February, and made their first trip to Kyiv. They expressed optimism afterward. Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have been mentioned as possible hosts. Earlier this year, U.S.-brokered rounds in Abu Dhabi and Geneva produced prisoner exchanges and talk of progress, but no breakthrough.

U.S. diplomacy has also been stretched thin. Reports note that efforts stalled for a time as Washington’s attention shifted to the war with Iran.

The Sticking Point

The core dispute has barely moved. Moscow has insisted that Ukraine cede territory in the east that Russian forces have not captured, a demand Kyiv rejects. Other unresolved questions include security guarantees for Ukraine and the fate of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Escalation on the Ground

While diplomats talk, both sides have intensified long-range strikes, and civilian casualties have reached their highest level since the early days of the war. Ukraine’s campaign against Russian refineries has also had global effects: the International Energy Agency says those attacks, combined with the disruption in the Gulf, have tightened diesel supplies worldwide.

A Possible Summit Moment

Zelensky has said he would be willing to meet Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit planned for Miami in December. Whether such a meeting happens will depend on whether the October-style talks produce anything concrete. For now, the central question is simply whether a new round convenes at all.

This article reflects reporting available as of October 16, 2026. Fast-moving events may have changed since.