US seeking to revive Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks
The United States is pushing to restart trilateral ceasefire talks between Kyiv and Moscow, with both sides confirming plans to relaunch negotiations and the United Arab Emirates floated as a possible host. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces struck eight Ukrainian regions since the start of the day amid continued nightly attacks that have killed and injured civilians and damaged infrastructure.
Why It Matters
Reviving talks would mark a renewed US diplomatic effort to halt a four-and-a-half-year war that has involved cross-border strikes, strikes on energy infrastructure and contested proposals on territorial and security terms. The talks intersect with urgent military and economic needs in Kyiv, including requests for air-defence equipment and budget support.
Key Facts
- Conflict duration: Four-and-a-half years
- Attacks reported by Zelenskyy since start of day: Eight regions
- Possible meeting format: Trilateral technical-level talks proposed by the US
- Suggested host: United Arab Emirates
- Civilian casualties in Kyiv overnight: One 14-year-old boy killed; at least seven others injured
The United States is working to arrange a new round of trilateral talks aimed at ending the four-and-a-half-year war between Russia and Ukraine, and both Kyiv and Moscow have confirmed plans to relaunch negotiations. Ukraine’s president said the US proposed a technical-level three-way meeting and suggested the United Arab Emirates as a potential location, while the Kremlin acknowledged a meeting could happen soon but gave no further details. Earlier talks this year had lost momentum amid broader US foreign-policy pressures tied to the response to Iran.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters the relaunch follows recent US diplomatic activity, including visits to Russia and Ukraine earlier this month by envoys from former President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev reportedly met with Witkoff and Kushner in the United States on September 24; the Kremlin said those discussions focused on possible economic cooperation.
The diplomatic push comes as Kyiv continues to face heavy Russian strikes. Zelenskyy reported that eight regions were attacked since the start of the day, and overnight barrages hit multiple population centres and infrastructure. A 16-floor building in Kyiv’s Pechersk district was struck, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring at least seven others. In the Odesa region, authorities said one person was killed and another injured after what officials described as “massive” strikes on residential areas and postal-operator logistics premises.
Both sides reported damage to energy and defence infrastructure. Russian forces said their air-defence units destroyed about 50 drones over the Rostov region and that a drone attack damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, forcing a suspension of operations. Ukraine reported it had struck refineries in Moscow and Yaroslavl and asserted strikes in Bashkortostan and the Samara region. Zelenskyy also reported unspecified strikes in the Black Sea and said he has discussed unblocking shipping there with leaders from India, Türkiye, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.
Amid the diplomatic efforts, Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv’s need for stronger sanctions on Russia and accelerated military budget support from the European Union, warning of shortages of missiles and drones early next year. He said former President Trump told him Ukraine would be permitted to make advanced Patriot air-defence missiles, but noted that any licence approval would still leave more than a year before newly produced systems could enter service.
Keep Reading
Protests in UK after arrest of far-right activist Daniel Thomas
Fighting erupts between Tigray’s rebel alliance and Ethiopia’s military
Fighting in northern Ethiopia spurs fears of blackout and blockade
