Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov first said the Oslo proposals would do little to resolve the war, then described them as a step in the right direction, the Associated Press reported.
That mixed account came after Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21. Ushakov separately told TASS that Moscow was open in principle to another round involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States around Nov. 10. He said the discussions would address security arrangements for both Russia and Ukraine.
Ushakov also mentioned Abu Dhabi as a possible venue in an interview with Vesti, TASS reported. No date or venue for another round has been confirmed, and no leaders’ summit has been announced. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a possible meeting of the three countries’ leaders, according to Ukraine’s presidential office.
Before Witkoff’s trip to Russia, he met Zelenskyy, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Oct. 20. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner joined by video. Norway’s prime minister’s office said the discussions included Ukraine’s security and territorial issues, along with planning for prosperity after the war. Ukraine’s presidential office said security guarantees were also discussed as Zelenskyy sought to have Witkoff carry Kyiv’s and its European partners’ proposals to Moscow.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Oslo discussions positive and said Witkoff would take the ideas to Russia. Støre also described the talks as constructive. Their assessments were more favorable than Ushakov’s initial view; his later description, reported by the Associated Press, qualified that criticism.
Russia, Ukraine and the United States previously held three-way talks in Abu Dhabi in January and February 2026, according to the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry. Ukraine’s presidential office also reported meetings involving Ukrainian, U.S. and Russian officials in Geneva in February.
The next indicator is whether the three governments agree on timing, a venue and who will take part; the proposed timing and location remain provisional.
