Trump says Putin-Zelensky meeting "very soon" as Oleshky truce holds
US President Donald Trump announced that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take place "very soon," voicing optimism about ending the war now in its fifth year. The Kremlin announced direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations under US mediation in Abu Dhabi for the first half of November, which Zelensky confirmed. Meanwhile, a US-brokered local ceasefire around the Russian-occupied frontline town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine held without reported violations, with the truce area expanded into the Kherson region for humanitarian convoys. Both sides also exchanged prisoners.
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Hope Grows for Ukraine Ceasefire as Trump Pushes Putin-Zelensky Talks
Diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine are gaining momentum, with signs pointing to a possible direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, mediated by US President Donald Trump, in the United Arab Emirates in early November. Trump said major progress had been made. Zelensky expressed willingness to discuss security guarantees for Russia alongside those for Ukraine, while warning against a 'new division of spheres of influence' ahead of a planned trilateral summit with the US and China. German Green politician Toni Hofreiter said talks with Putin are right but only succeed from a position of strength, and FDP's Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann stressed outcomes for Ukrainians matter most. Putin reportedly repeated maximalist demands for the entire Donbass and delivered a historical monologue. The US is trying to entice Putin with economic deals including rare earths and titanium. A humanitarian truce in the encircled town of Oleshky, brokered with Melania Trump's involvement, is seen as a test case for a durable ceasefire.
Trump Announces 'Very Soon' Meeting with Putin and Zelensky
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take place 'very soon,' expressing optimism that major progress could be made toward ending the war. The Kremlin had earlier announced direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations under US mediation in Abu Dhabi for the first half of November, which Zelensky confirmed. Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized a phone call between the Finnish and Norwegian leaders and Putin, saying it was not coordinated with other European leaders. A US-brokered ceasefire around the occupied frontline city of Oleshky has held for its first 30 hours and is set to expire November 1 to allow evacuations. Zelensky also reported that Russia fired over 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and its surroundings within two weeks, highlighting delays in air defense deliveries, particularly Patriot systems.
Trump Announces 'Very Soon' Meeting with Putin and Zelensky
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take place 'very soon,' expressing optimism that significant progress could be made toward ending the war, now in its fifth year. The Kremlin recently announced direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators under US mediation in Abu Dhabi for the first half of November, which Zelensky confirmed on X. Meanwhile, a local ceasefire around the Russian-occupied frontline town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine has held without reported violations, according to both sides. Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no violations were registered by nightfall Tuesday. First Lady Melania Trump, who reportedly initiated the ceasefire talks, said on X that the truce area had been expanded beyond Oleshky into the Kherson region to allow safe passage for humanitarian convoys, and that the ceasefire began two days earlier than planned. Some residents fear Russian screening during evacuations.
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Moscow and Kyiv Agree to Ceasefire in Oleshky as Prisoners Exchanged
Russia and Ukraine confirmed a locally limited ceasefire in the besieged front-line town of Oleshky, following a US announcement. The office of US First Lady Melania Trump said she successfully brokered the truce, which Kyiv and Moscow said would begin Tuesday at 2:00 a.m. CET, though its duration was initially unknown. The ceasefire is intended to allow humanitarian aid and evacuations in the town, which lies on Russian-occupied territory in southern Ukraine and has been cut off for months. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the evacuation would take at least several days. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported Starlink service restored after over a week of disruptions, Russia reported deaths from Ukrainian strikes in Oryol and Samara regions, and both sides exchanged prisoners. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin also showed readiness to resume contacts with US and Ukrainian representatives, with a trilateral meeting planned for mid-November in the UAE.
Read sourceMoscow and Kyiv Agree to Ceasefire in Oleshky as Prisoners Exchanged
Russia and Ukraine confirmed a locally limited ceasefire in the besieged front-line town of Oleshky, starting Tuesday at 2:00 AM CET, following a US announcement. US First Lady Melania Trump's office claimed she successfully mediated the truce, which President Donald Trump praised. The ceasefire aims to allow humanitarian aid and evacuation of civilians in the town, which is on Russian-occupied territory and cut off from supplies. Additionally, the two sides exchanged 270 prisoners each, with Ukrainian President Zelensky confirming the return of soldiers and civilians. Meanwhile, Starlink internet in Ukraine remains throttled despite Trump's earlier claim it was lifted, and CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen stated Trump is currently siding with Russia.
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