Russia and Ukraine say they are ready to resume US-brokered talks as missiles hit Kyiv
After US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in St Petersburg, both sides said they were ready to restart three-way talks, but Russia then fired at least 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv, according to Ukraine.
Photo: Larmarphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on 20 October, then spent more than three hours with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Afterwards Moscow and Kyiv both said they were ready to resume three-way talks with Washington. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said talks would reopen in mid-November; Zelensky said he hoped for early November.Sources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Ushakov said the new European and Ukrainian proposals had little "substance". During the talks Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen captured in Ukraine in 2022, after Trump asked for his release. Moscow said a summit of Putin, Trump and Xi Jinping is being prepared in Shenzhen for next month.Sources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Hours later, Ukraine said Russia fired at least 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv. Russia said Ukraine launched 630 drones towards Moscow overnight; Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people near the capital were wounded. Casualty figures differ: Reuters, via NBC News, reported two killed and 34 injured across a dozen Ukrainian regions, while France 24 reported at least four killed.Sources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Where it happened
Who is involved
- Steve WitkoffMet Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in St PetersburgUS special envoySources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Vladimir PutinHosted Witkoff and agreed to resume talks; freed Stephen HubbardPresident of Russia
- Volodymyr ZelenskyBacked renewed talks by early NovemberPresident of UkraineSources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Yuri UshakovSaid talks would resume in mid-November and announced a planned summitKremlin foreign policy aideSources:1France 24 (with AFP): Ukraine and Russia both say ready to resume trilateral talks with US, France 24 (with AFP), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2NBC News (Reuters): Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, hours after agreeing to peace talks, NBC News (Reuters), 22 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Donald TrumpAsked Putin to release Hubbard; named for the planned summitPresident of the United States
- Xi JinpingNamed by Moscow for the planned Shenzhen summitPresident of China
- Sergei SobyaninSaid two people were wounded by drones near MoscowMayor of Moscow
Topics
Sources
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