Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Ukraine Prepares for Possible October Russia-U.S. Talks
Ukraine says it is preparing for peace talks with Russia and the United States in October.
Kyrylo Budanov said Ukraine was getting ready for these talks.
The three countries previously held a meeting in Geneva in February.
U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently visited Moscow and Kyiv.
They said there was new energy for continuing negotiations.
Ukraine’s president said the envoys brought forward useful ideas.
Russia said it might agree to talks but that no date or place had been decided.
The countries still disagree about how to end the war, especially over territory in the eastern Donbas region.
Kyiv is preparing for the possible resumption of three-sided talks with Russia and the United States in October.
Kyrylo Budanov said Ukraine was getting ready for renewed negotiations, according to Ukrainian media.
The last three-sided meeting took place in Geneva in February, after which U.S.-led diplomatic efforts stalled.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently met officials in Moscow and Kyiv.
Moscow has not ruled out renewed talks, but major disagreements remain, including over Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas.
- Who
- Ukraine, Russia and the United States, including Ukrainian official Kyrylo Budanov and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
- What
- Ukraine is preparing for the possible resumption of three-sided peace talks in October.
- When
- The announcement was reported on Sept. 12; the proposed talks would take place in October, with no year specified in the report.
- Where
- Potential talks could take place in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland or another country; the previous meeting was held in Geneva.
- Why
- The talks are intended to address the war, though the sides still have major disagreements over how it should end.
Ukraine’s Position
Russia’s Position
Resuming negotiations
Ukraine’s Position
Ukraine is preparing for the possible resumption of three-sided talks in October and has described ideas presented by U.S. envoys as worthwhile.
Russia’s Position
Moscow said it did not rule out resuming peace talks but said it was too early to determine when or where they would occur.
Territorial settlement
Ukraine’s Position
Ukraine continues to hold territory in the eastern Donbas, whose future is identified as a major issue in negotiations.
Russia’s Position
Moscow claims the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas as its own, but has not captured it despite years of fighting.
- Proposed timing
- October
- Participants
- Ukraine, Russia and the United States
- Previous meeting
- Geneva in February
- Recent diplomatic visits
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv
- Potential hosts
- Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland or other countries
- Main unresolved issue
- The fate of Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas
- Russia’s response
- The Kremlin said it did not rule out renewed talks but said the timing and location were uncertain