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U.S. editionTagesschau reported on October 21 that Russia’s President Putin, after a meeting with US special envoy Witkoff, is apparently ready for new negotiations. Several media reported that Russia agreed to a three-way meeting with the United States and Ukraine and is ready for talks with both sides. Earlier it had been reported that Witkoff was traveling to Russia. Ukrainian President Zelensky said he wanted talks with the United States and Russia “as soon as possible.” Spiegel wrote that Zelensky was open to freezing the front line. According to Bloomberg, US Secretary of State Rubio defended US support for Ukraine on Wednesday. The reports named neither a date nor a place for the meeting.
A three-way meeting would be a format in which Russia, the United States and Ukraine sit at the table together; so far, contacts have often run through envoys. The question of whether the front line is frozen touches the core of any negotiation: territory, security guarantees and the length of the war.
For Germany and Europe, energy prices, the security situation and the cost of aid to Ukraine depend on whether negotiations take place. Anyone following the reports can distinguish between willingness to talk and an actual date.
Supporters of negotiations see in Russia’s agreement and in Zelensky’s openness a chance to limit the fighting. That Ukraine itself is to be at the table they regard as an important signal.
Skeptics point out that, according to Tagesschau, Putin has only “apparently” agreed and that conditions remain open. Freezing the front line is contested because it could in effect cement territorial losses.
Confirmed are the reports of Russian agreement to three-way talks and Zelensky’s wish for quick talks. Not confirmed are the date, place, participants and conditions. Today it is worth watching for confirmations from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington and for whether Witkoff actually travels.
Tagesschau (Putin agrees to new talks, Oct. 21) · Spiegel (Zelensky open to freezing the front line, Oct. 21) · Bloomberg (Rubio on US support, Oct. 21)
Russia signals agreement to three-way talks with the US and Ukraine
After a meeting with US special envoy Witkoff, Putin is apparently ready for new negotiations; Zelensky wants talks as soon as possible.
Russia has agreed, according to several media outlets, to take part in a three-way meeting with the United States and Ukraine. Tagesschau reported on Wednesday evening that President Vladimir Putin had apparently agreed to new negotiations after a meeting with US special envoy Witkoff. Earlier it had been reported that Witkoff was traveling to Russia; several reports then said Putin had spoken with him about the war in Ukraine. Russia was ready for talks with Ukraine and the United States, was the summary in the reports. The reports named neither a date nor a place for the three-way meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted talks with the United States and with Russia “as soon as possible.” Spiegel also reported that Zelensky was open to freezing the front line, and raised the question of how Putin would respond to possible peace solutions in his war of aggression. According to Bloomberg, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration’s support for Ukraine on Wednesday and said the country would not exist without US help. A reaction from Moscow to Zelensky’s remark on the front line is not contained in the available reports.
Word of the day
Freezing the front lineForeign policyThis means halting the fighting along the current line without settling the question of territory for good.