Kremlin: Putin told Witkoff Russia is ready to resume trilateral talks in November

At a meeting with US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin said Russia is in principle ready to resume trilateral talks involving the US and Ukraine in the second ten days of November. This was reported by the Russian president's aide Yuri Ushakov.

According to Ushakov, the meeting took place in the Konstantinovsky Palace and lasted about three hours. He said the central topic was the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, and that the conversation was thorough and frank. Kushner took part remotely: Telegram channels report that he did not come because of illness.

The account of what was discussed comes from Ushakov himself. He put it this way: "our president informed Witkoff that we are in principle ready to resume trilateral talks in the second ten days of November on the main topic." Retellings of his words repeat the qualifier: readiness was expressed "in principle," meaning the date and conditions are not fixed.

Ushakov added that Witkoff described new approaches by the EU and Kyiv to a settlement. By the Kremlin's assessment, which he voiced, there is little in them that is useful for a Ukrainian settlement. This is a judgment by the Russian side, not a description of the proposals themselves, and Moscow, as a party to the conflict, has an interest in such an assessment.

Belarusian state media present the statement as Putin's own words to Witkoff. Non-state Belarusian outlets cite Ushakov as the source and quote his assessment of the EU and Kyiv approaches, which is absent from the state report.

Belarus has already offered itself as a participant in the negotiating process. In March 2022, Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei said that Minsk was ready to take part in talks between Russia and Ukraine if asked and if there was a need.

In April 2022, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted Minsk's important role and recalled that the Belarusian government had offered a venue for peace talks from the very beginning. It is not yet known whether Belarus will be invited to the November round, if it takes place.