Russian President Vladimir Putin has told US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Moscow is willing in principle to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States next month to end the conflict, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday.No such talks have taken place since February. The Kremlin said the proposed new round of negotiations could focus on establishing a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.Ushakov said Witkoff briefed Putin on his meetings in Oslo on Tuesday, where the American envoy met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Norwegian prime minister and the Finnish president.According to Ushakov, Witkoff highlighted some new approaches in the positions of European countries and Kyiv, although Moscow believed they offered little that could help resolve the conflict.
The Kremlin aide also said a new round of trilateral talks involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine could take place in Abu Dhabi, according to Russian state broadcaster Vesti.Interfax reported Ushakov as saying that the Ukrainian conflict was nearing an end. Putin and Witkoff held talks lasting almost three hours, during which they also discussed implementing an October 9 agreement between Putin and US President Donald Trump on supplying Russian diesel to the United States and global markets, Ushakov said.The discussions also covered the crisis involving Iran.
Ushakov said Putin had stressed that diplomatic options remained available and that reaching agreements with Tehran was both possible and necessary, describing Iran as Russia's strategic partner."Russia reaffirmed its readiness to continue facilitating the search for political and diplomatic solutions to the Iranian issue," Ushakov said.The Kremlin's remarks signal Moscow's stated willingness to return to negotiations next month, although the proposed talks have yet to take place.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters.