Ukraine, US, and Russia to Hold Peace Talks in November

Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Sunday that Ukraine, the United States, and Russia will hold trilateral peace talks in November.

The Ukrainian president stated in an interview that his country is prepared to negotiate. He noted that territorial disputes must be resolved by top leaders, while other matters fall to technical teams. Zelenskyy said this structure allows all issues to be addressed during the November meeting.

Kyiv has set boundaries for these discussions. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not accept limits on its armed forces or enforced postwar neutrality. The country continues to seek membership in NATO, despite hesitation from some current members.

Zelenskyy also renewed his request for a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin. He believes Putin is the only Russian official capable of making the major decisions needed to end the war.

The president said US warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile strikes have been fully restored. He told TSN television that SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet has operated at speeds up to 420 kilometers per hour since early Saturday. This service was throttled earlier in the month due to diplomatic pressure from Washington. Zelenskyy met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo before the system’s full restoration.

Washington has pressured Kyiv to pause strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing they drive up energy prices. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will only stop if Moscow halts attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure, or if the US permits Starshield use over Russia to detect missile launches, or if it supplies Patriot missiles.

Russia launched nearly 2,300 drones at Ukrainian cities over the past week, Zelenskyy posted online. He specified that attacks included about 1,600 guided bombs and 48 missiles of various types. He asked western allies to speed up interceptor deliveries.

The Russian defence ministry reported that its drones struck a cargo vessel bound for Chornomorsk and another heading to Odesa. It claimed the vessels were supplying the Ukrainian army. Russian forces also hit logistics and distribution centers in Kharkiv. Reuters could not independently confirm these reports.

A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed three people and injured 13, local authorities said. Governor Alexander Shuvayev reported that 30 apartment buildings were damaged. A separate strike later that day killed another person.

In Bulgaria, a presidential election ended in a tie on Sunday. Andrey Gyurov, a pro-western candidate who supports Ukraine, will face incumbent Iliana Yotova in a runoff. Yotova opposes military aid to Kyiv and favors dialogue with Russia. The vote occurred amid security concerns following drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea.