Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way talks on Ukraine after November 10, and freed a jailed American, as strikes hit Kyiv
The Kremlin set no date, and earlier rounds this year produced little beyond prisoner exchanges. The same night, Russian strikes killed civilians in Kyiv and near Kharkiv.
Key takeaways
- Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine after November 10, with no date set.
- Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, 74, a Michigan man held for more than four years; the U.S. had designated him wrongfully detained.
- Ukrainian officials said overnight Russian attacks killed three people in Kyiv and two near Kharkiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff for about three hours in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, and agreed in principle to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine after November 10, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said, according to the Associated Press. Jared Kushner joined by video link. No date or venue was announced, and Ushakov said the talks would focus on a postwar security arrangement for both countries.
Witkoff said there was some degree of momentum. Previous trilateral rounds this year, in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, yielded prisoner swaps but no framework for ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo the day before, has said only a meeting of leaders can break the deadlock.
Who is Stephen Hubbard?
During the visit, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been held for more than four years. Russian forces captured him in 2022, and in 2024 a closed court sentenced him to nearly seven years for mercenary activity. The State Department had designated him as wrongfully detained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin released him on humanitarian grounds, and President Trump said the U.S. gave nothing in return, the AP reported. He is the second American freed by Russia in about two months.
Strikes continued
Overnight, Russian attacks on Kyiv killed three people, wounded 12 and damaged 10 residential buildings, Ukrainian officials said, and drones near Kharkiv killed two more. The pattern of diplomacy running alongside heavy strikes has held all year. The next marker to watch is whether a date and venue for talks are named after November 10.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour (Associated Press), “Putin agrees to resume trilateral Russia-Ukraine-U.S. talks next month,” October 21, 2026
- PBS NewsHour (Associated Press), “Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after over 4 years in prison, during a visit from U.S. envoy Witkoff,” October 21, 2026
Written by Action Global News from the sources above; quotations are attributed to the outlet that published them. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
Frequently asked
When will the next Ukraine peace talks happen?
The Kremlin said Putin agreed in principle to resume talks after November 10, 2026. No date or venue had been set as of October 22.
Did the U.S. trade anyone for Stephen Hubbard?
President Trump said no one was given up in return, and the Kremlin described the release as humanitarian.