Zelenskyy says Ukraine preparing trilateral talks with US and Russia in first half of November

Ukraine is preparing for trilateral talks involving Kyiv, Washington and Moscow in the first half of November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on potential diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Zelenskyy said the two leaders had discussed prospects for the proposed talks, including the possible involvement of Türkiye and European partners, as well as the option of hosting negotiations on Turkish territory.

“We are now preparing for a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and Russia – in the first half of November,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.

“President Erdogan and I discussed the prospects for this format and other possibilities, including ways to involve Türkiye and all of Europe, as well as the possibility of holding meetings here in Türkiye.”

The Ukrainian president stressed that achieving peace would require decisive international action and sustained pressure on Moscow.

“Strong decisions are needed to bring peace. At every level, Russia must be sent signals that there is no alternative to peace and that support for Ukraine will not diminish,” he said.

Zelenskyy also referred to a humanitarian operation carried out in recent days in Oleshky, in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, saying it demonstrated that de-escalation was possible when Russia faced sufficient pressure to change its approach.

He said the operation showed that Moscow could be compelled to take steps towards reducing tensions under the right circumstances.

The Ukrainian leader made the remarks during a joint media appearance with Erdogan in Türkiye.

Zelenskyy did not provide a specific date or location for the proposed trilateral talks, nor did he clarify the level of representation expected from the participating countries.

The discussions come amid continued diplomatic efforts to explore a negotiated settlement to the war, with Kyiv maintaining that international support for Ukraine must remain firm throughout any peace process.