World
Zelensky proposes frontline freeze; Putin agrees to resume negotiations
Ukraine's president has proposed freezing battlefield lines as a first step toward peace talks, while Russia's leader has agreed to resume three-way negotiations with Kyiv and Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed on Wednesday (21) freezing the battle front against Russia as a first step to initiating ceasefire negotiations. Zelensky told a U.S. broadcaster that a peace agreement can be discussed with the immediate freezing of frontlines in the country, describing the measure as a way to "end this war." According to the Ukrainian president, the proposal also involves security guarantees from the United States and Europe.
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume trilateral negotiations with Washington and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine. The agreement was confirmed by a Russian presidential official (Kremlin) following a meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and a special envoy from Donald Trump. Putin agreed "in principle" to resume talks after November 10, according to Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to the Russian leader.
Sources indicate that both Ukraine and Russia have accepted a U.S. proposal to resume peace negotiations. Furthermore, Washington would resume sharing information with Kyiv. During the St. Petersburg meeting, Putin also offered to help the United States resolve the conflict with Iran.
The proposed freezing of frontlines represents a departure from both sides' earlier positions in the conflict. Zelensky's proposal places focus on the immediate cessation of military operations as a prerequisite for diplomatic discussions, linking this step to international security guarantees.
Disagreements over territory and security guarantees continue to complicate a lasting peace agreement. Putin's acceptance of resuming negotiations marks a significant shift in dialogue between the parties, though the practical details and timeline of trilateral talks remain to be clarified.
The trilateral negotiations would be mediated by the United States, involving representatives from Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow. The sequence of events—with Zelensky's proposal and Putin's immediate response on the same day—suggests an alignment of proposals between the parties mediated by the U.S.