Zelenskiy Says U.S.-Brokered Peace Talks With Russia Could Resume This Week, Putin Meeting Also Discussed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he is coordinating a new round of peace talks with Russia under U.S. mediation.

Bloomberg reported on October 18 that Zelenskiy, in an interview, said he would hold a video call later that day with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to discuss ways to launch fresh peace negotiations as soon as this week.

Zelenskiy said the meeting would cover the venue and a detailed timetable for the talks. The U.S. envoys are also pursuing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. If negotiations go ahead, they would follow a format similar to the talks held in early September.

At that time, Kushner and Witkoff first traveled to Moscow for talks with Putin before heading to Kyiv for an initial face-to-face meeting with Zelenskiy. “We all need to meet,” Zelenskiy said. “The U.S. side understands that, and so do we. They want to meet with us, and they also want to meet with Putin.”

Still, Zelenskiy voiced concern about changes in Washington’s policy toward Russia since the last round of talks. He said the earlier negotiations had unfolded in a positive atmosphere, but that President Donald Trump later announced an agreement allowing Russian diesel to be sold in U.S. and global markets to help stabilize international oil prices.

Trump also announced in an executive order on October 16 a measure exempting Russia from new tariffs and sanctions. The decision was intended to ease upward pressure on fuel prices and has continued to stir debate in the U.S.

Some Republican lawmakers criticized the sanctions exemption. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a Fox News interview on October 18 that he had told the White House the measure needed to be discussed. He warned that it could produce unintended side effects, though he said he ultimately expects an appropriate decision to be made.

Zelenskiy also said in an NBC interview on October 18 that he hopes Trump will change his stance toward Putin and reverse related decisions. As U.S. sanctions relief for Russia emerges as a new variable, attention is turning to whether peace talks will resume this week.