Ukraine-US-Russia peace talks may resume in October, Budanov says

What happened

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said on September 12 that preparations are underway for a new trilateral peace talks session involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia in October. Budanov made the remarks on the sidelines of the Yalta European Strategy meeting in Kyiv but did not disclose the potential venue for the negotiations. This development follows a renewed U.S. diplomatic effort to revive negotiations on the conflict.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The U.S. involvement has been signaled by recent discussions led by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who conducted substantive talks with officials in Kyiv and Moscow in early September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to resume trilateral negotiations and mentioned a follow-up meeting including European countries was also agreed. However, the details on agendas or outcomes remain unspecified at this stage.

The push for talks comes amid intense hostilities, exemplified by a large-scale Russian drone attack on September 12, with Zelensky reporting nearly 500 drones launched in one day. Ukrainian forces also marked a notable milestone by using a Sargan 3000 marine drone to destroy an incoming Russian strike drone, illustrating increasing complexity in the conflict’s military dynamics. The drone attacks caused casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, including metallurgical plants.

Known from the source

• Kyrylo Budanov stated preparations for new trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia peace talks in October.
• Budanov declined to specify the talks' venue.
• The statement follows recent U.S. diplomatic activity involving envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
• Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to return to trilateral negotiations and mentioned a separate follow-up meeting with European countries.
• On September 12, Russia launched nearly 500 strike drones at Ukraine according to Zelensky.

What remains unclear

While the prospect of talks indicates some diplomatic momentum, Zelensky cautioned against easing sanctions at this time, pointing to the ongoing barrage of drone attacks. Moscow’s current stance and the proposed negotiations coexist amid contradictory signals, with Russian officials emphasizing supposed goodwill while refusing ceasefires or leader-level meetings in neutral locations, according to the available reporting.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact venue and date confirmation for the October talks. Official statements or documents confirming the trilateral format and participants' agreements. Independent corroboration of recent casualty figures and impact of Russian strikes.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.