President Putin has made another significant decision, marking a potential turning point in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Reuters, Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin foreign policy aide, said on October 21 that Putin held talks with U.S. envoy Keith Wente for nearly three hours in St. Petersburg, signaling Russia’s willingness in principle to resume negotiations aimed at ending the conflict next month. This would mark the first resumption of trilateral talks among the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine since February this year.
Ushakov emphasized that the upcoming round of talks should focus on “establishing a security framework for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.” A Russian source indicated that the location could be Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy subsequently expressed support for an early start, hoping for progress by early November. Meanwhile, Donald Trump stated: “The end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has never been closer.”
Yet American optimism may be premature. The gap over territorial concessions remains substantial. While Zelenskyy has indicated openness to a “frozen line of contact” and retaining control over at least 75% of pre-war territory—marking the first public articulation of Ukraine’s compromise threshold—Russia insists on the permanence of its current territorial gains, including Crimea and the four eastern oblasts. The chasm between 75% and 100% effectively encompasses the entire Donbas region.
Moreover, the postwar security architecture remains deeply divergent. Ukraine seeks a collective defense arrangement akin to NATO’s Article 5, requiring continued military aid and intelligence sharing. Russia demands Ukrainian neutrality, exclusion from NATO, and reductions in military size. These frameworks are largely incompatible. Additionally, Moscow has dismissed the U.S.-proposed framework with skepticism. Ushakov explicitly described the new EU-Ukraine proposal brought by Wente as “lacking substantial practical value.” Lavrov also reiterated: no political concessions will be exchanged for economic deals.
In reality, this renewed push for trilateral talks is driven primarily by the United States, with Ukraine making concessions and Russia maintaining a cautious posture. Still, the mere fact that all three parties have agreed to resume dialogue represents a step forward compared to continued hostilities without any diplomatic engagement.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1879709911538696/
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