Vladimir Putin agreed to resume trilateral peace negotiations with Ukraine and the United States in November. The renewed diplomatic push comes amid continuing strikes and concerns over Washington's support for Kyiv.Vladimir Putin (L), Donald Trump (M), and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume trilateral peace negotiations with Ukraine and the United States as early as November, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, as Washington intensifies efforts to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.The proposed talks, to be held at the level of negotiating teams, could take place in Abu Dhabi on or after November 10, the Kremlin said.

Discussions are expected to focus on security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv supported the US proposal and wanted the meeting to take place as soon as possible, preferably by early November. He said Ukraine was open to proposals for a ceasefire, an end to the war, a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and humanitarian initiatives.The announcement followed a meeting between Putin and US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, the ninth time the two have met in person.

Witkoff also held talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders during his diplomatic push to secure an end to the conflict. MISSILES STRIKE KYIV, DRONES HIT RUSSIAN CITYMeanwhile, missiles struck Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Thursday, a Reuters witness reported, in another attack following a Russian air strike the previous evening.

The earlier strike injured six people and damaged homes, a petrol station and transport equipment.In Russia, drones struck apartment buildings and a medical facility in Lipetsk, around 400 km (250 miles) south of Moscow. One man was injured, regional Governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram.

The latest strikes came as Witkoff pursued diplomatic efforts with both sides to end the conflict, now in its fourth year.US ENVOY'S MEETING BEGINS WITH PRISONER RELEASEThe meeting between Putin and Witkoff began with Russia releasing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American schoolteacher who had been in custody since 2022. Putin said he had agreed to the release at US President Donald Trump’s request and had also considered Hubbard’s poor health.Hubbard was serving a six-year-and-10-month prison sentence after being convicted of mercenary activity in a closed-door trial.

Russian prosecutors alleged he had joined a Ukrainian territorial defence unit and served at a military checkpoint in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum.However, Hubbard’s US-based lawyer, Martin De Luca, previously told Reuters that his client disputed the allegations and said he had not been part of a combat or military unit. Hubbard’s sister had also rejected the suggestion that he had taken up arms for any government.Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, calling him a “humanitarian”.

The remark drew criticism from lawmakers in both US political parties, given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Republican Senator Thom Tillis described the comment as “embarrassing and outrageous”.Trump said the United States had given nothing in exchange for Hubbard’s release and that efforts to settle the war were making progress.

Hubbard’s son, Joseph Coleman, told Reuters that he had spoken briefly to his father before he boarded a plane out of Russia and described him as happy.CONCERNS OVER WASHINGTON'S SUPPORT FOR KYIVThe renewed peace push comes amid concerns in Ukraine and among its European allies that Washington is easing its support for Kyiv. Those concerns have included reports of interruptions to real-time intelligence sharing and Ukraine’s military communications.Trump had promised during his election campaign to end the war within 24 hours.

His administration’s recent steps toward Moscow, including a deal to buy Russian diesel and a waiver of new sanctions, have also prompted criticism in Congress and concern among European capitals.The last US-mediated peace talks took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran. Witkoff described his latest discussions with Putin as “constructive” and said diplomatic contacts would continue towards technical-level negotiations.- EndsWith inputs from