# Putin says renewed Ukraine talks must cover security guarantees and Europe's security framework

World & Diplomacy · 22 October 2026 · Russia
URL: https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-22-putin-says-renewed-ukraine-talks-must-cover-security-guarantees-and

> A day after meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin confirmed Russia is ready to resume US-mediated talks next month but wants a final settlement, not a short ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that future talks on ending the war in Ukraine should focus on security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine and on an overall framework for security across Europe. Speaking on Russian state television a day after meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff, he confirmed Russia is ready to resume US-mediated talks with Ukraine next month. [1]

Putin said agreements must ensure security "after reaching peace agreements, in their final form", signalling that Moscow wants a lasting settlement rather than a short-lived ceasefire. He said Witkoff had stressed that talks must also cover the architecture of European security as a whole, and that he agreed. [1]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met Witkoff in Norway on Tuesday, said talks would likely take place by early next month and that Ukraine supports proposals for a ceasefire, an end to the war, an energy ceasefire and humanitarian initiatives. The main gap remains territory: Russia demands all of the Donbas region, which Putin called "the territory of historical Russia", while Kyiv refuses to give up land it holds. [1]

During Witkoff's visit to St Petersburg on 21 October, Putin announced the release of jailed US citizen Stephen Hubbard. On 23 October the Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said reports that Hubbard was freed in exchange for a Russian war blogger were false; Trump has said there was no swap. [1][2]

## Who was involved

- [Vladimir Putin](https://connectthedots.news/person/vladimir-putin): Set out Russia's terms for resumed US-mediated talks [1]
- [Steve Witkoff](https://connectthedots.news/person/steve-witkoff): Met Putin a day earlier; pressed for talks on European security [1]
- [Volodymyr Zelensky](https://connectthedots.news/person/volodymyr-zelensky): Said talks likely by early November; backs ceasefire proposals [1]
- [Dmitry Peskov](https://connectthedots.news/person/dmitry-peskov): Denied reports of a prisoner swap for Stephen Hubbard [2]

## Linked stories

- Follow-up of: [Russia and Ukraine say they are ready to resume US-brokered talks as missiles hit Kyiv](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-21-russia-and-ukraine-say-they-are-ready-to-resume-us-brokered-talks-as) (21 October 2026)

## Sources

1. Reuters (via The Moscow Times), "Putin Says Renewed Peace Talks Must Focus on Security for Russia, Ukraine and Europe Overall", 23 October 2026: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/23/putin-says-renewed-peace-talks-must-focus-on-security-for-russia-ukraine-and-europe-overall-a94061
2. Just Security (summarising Reuters), "Early Edition: October 23, 2026", 23 October 2026: https://www.justsecurity.org/161891/early-edition-october-23-2026/