Russia Agrees in Principle to Resume Ceasefire Talks; Zelensky Open to Freezing Front Lines

Russia has agreed in principle to resume ceasefire talks with Ukraine and the US, while Ukraine's president expressed readiness to freeze the front lines.

• Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia is "ready in principle" to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine, possibly around 10 November in Abu Dhabi.
• Zelensky said he is prepared to freeze the current front lines to end the war, telling Fox News the situation "must be frozen now."
• A US official said envoys proposed a trilateral technical meeting, accepted by Ukraine in Oslo on Tuesday and by Russia in St Petersburg on Wednesday.
• Ushakov said Putin reiterated to Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff that Russian troops held the "strategic initiative" across the front, a claim Kyiv disputes.
• Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to freeze the front lines if the deal lets Kyiv retain at least 75% of its territory.
• Witkoff described his talks with Putin in St. Petersburg as constructive, covering Ukraine's post-war economic plan and European security.
• Witkoff was accompanied by Trump's advisor Jared Kushner at the St. Petersburg meeting with Putin.
• US envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed on X that trilateral negotiations will continue at the technical level.
• The next round of trilateral talks will focus on security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia after the war ends.
• Trump said Washington is in direct negotiations with Moscow and closer than ever to a deal, adding that Zelensky's absence or objections would not stop US efforts.
• A Kremlin aide dismissed the talks with the US and Ukraine as offering little that was useful.
• The White House faced criticism over Trump's remarks downplaying the civilian toll in the war.