Russia says it is ready to resume US-mediated Ukraine talks around November 10, with Abu Dhabi a possible venue after Putin-Witkoff meeting

Russia is prepared to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine around November 10, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said, adding that Abu Dhabi could host the discussions. He spoke to reporters in St Petersburg after a three-hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, where the situation in Ukraine was a central topic, including Moscow’s readiness to resume negotiations on creating a post-war security system for Moscow and Kiev.

Ushakov said Putin praised Washington’s mediation efforts. Russia and Ukraine held three rounds of US-mediated negotiations earlier this year: the first two in Abu Dhabi and the third in Geneva.

Ushakov also said Putin had confirmed Russia’s willingness to help find political and diplomatic solutions concerning Iran. He said diplomatic opportunities were “far from exhausted” and that reaching an agreement with Tehran was both possible and necessary.

At the meeting at Constantine Palace, Witkoff announced that Russia had released 73-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, who had been sentenced to a penal colony after being convicted of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Russian officials handed Hubbard over to Witkoff at St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport for his return to the United States. Ushakov said Witkoff thanked Putin on behalf of US President Donald Trump for the gesture of goodwill.