President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is preparing new diplomatic engagements with the US and its European partners. A meeting between the negotiating teams from Ukraine, the United States and Russia is tentatively scheduled for the first half of November 2026. Kyiv is prepared to hold it earlier, but the date, agenda and Russia’s participation require agreement.
Briefly about the main points
- The meeting between the negotiating teams has been provisionally scheduled for the first half of November.
- Kyiv is prepared to hold the meeting earlier, provided all participants agree.
- Zelenskyy has announced a number of diplomatic meetings in Europe.
- Ukraine insists that Europe should be involved in the negotiation process.
- Territorial issues, security guarantees and the ceasefire remain unresolved.
Contacts with Trump’s representatives and the terms of the meeting
Regarding the preliminary agreement on format of the negotiations Zelensky he said on 23 October during a speech at the Hudson Institute. This refers to contact at delegation level, which, according to Kyiv’s plan, is intended to pave the way for further negotiations at the highest political level.
The Ukrainian team She had previously spoken to representatives of the US President Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff і Jared Kushner. The parties discussed previous diplomatic contacts and the possibilities for taking the process forward.
A similar meeting had been planned for October, but it did not take place. According to the president, the Russian side reneged on the previous agreements. Kyiv is counting on Washington’s mediation and its pressure on Moscow to facilitate a new round of talks.
The European dimension of diplomacy and unresolved issues
The following day, Zelenskyy announced that meetings were being arranged in Europe involving the US and European partners. Ukraine expects to continue negotiations over the coming week.
The President emphasised that European states must play a direct role in diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end. «Europe must play a role in diplomacy», he said in his address.
Kyiv’s position is that the outcome of the negotiations cannot be limited to a cessation of hostilities. Ukraine insists on effective security guarantees that will prevent a repeat of the Russian invasion.
Preliminary agreement on the format of the talks does not imply an agreement on the terms for ending the war. According to Reuters, territorial issues, security guarantees and the terms of the ceasefire remain obstacles to a peace deal.
As of 25 October, Kyiv had confirmed its readiness for further talks. The final date of the meeting and the agenda are yet to be agreed upon by the participants in the process.
