The United States is seeking to revive Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, with Kyiv and Moscow confirming plans for a new trilateral meeting that could be held in the United Arab Emirates.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Washington had proposed discussions at a technical level, with the date yet to be agreed. The initiative follows earlier negotiations that stalled as US efforts to broker an end to the four-and-a-half-year war were overtaken by Washington’s conflict with Iran.
“The American side has proposed meeting at a technical level in a three-way format,” Mr Zelenskyy told reporters. “We are awaiting a proposal from the United States regarding the date and the US has suggested the Emirates as a possible location.”
The Kremlin later confirmed that a trilateral meeting could take place soon. However, its spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were currently no further details.
President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited Russia and Ukraine earlier this month in an attempt to restart efforts towards a ceasefire.
Washington’s approach has previously faced criticism for appearing to favour Moscow’s position. Russia has demanded that Ukraine surrender territory it has illegally occupied, demilitarise and abandon its ambitions to join Nato.
Russia’s presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev reportedly met Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner in the US on September 24. Mr Peskov said the discussions focused on possible economic co-operation.
Ukraine seeks stronger air defences
Mr Zelenskyy said Mr Trump had told him that Ukraine would be given permission to produce advanced Patriot air defence missiles. Kyiv is seeking additional protection as Russian drone and missile attacks intensify, although approval has been delayed.
Even if a licence is granted, Ukraine would not be able to put new Patriot systems into service for more than a year. Mr Zelenskyy is in the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly and has continued to appeal to allies for further support.
“In recent days, during our meetings, Ukraine has openly informed our partners: Russia will only escalate as winter approaches unless there is pressure,” he wrote on X. “For diplomacy to work, US sanctions must be implemented and European sanctions must be strengthened.”
Kyiv is also discussing faster military budget support with representatives of the European Union, warning that it could run short of missiles and drones early next year.
Overnight attacks across the region
The diplomatic efforts come as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange nightly air attacks. Mr Zelenskyy said eight Ukrainian regions had been targeted by Russian forces since the start of Friday.
An overnight strike hit a 16-storey building in Kyiv’s central Pechersk district, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring at least seven people.
In the southern Odesa region, governor Oleh Kiper said one person was killed and another injured in what he described as massive Russian strikes on a residential area and the logistics facilities of a postal operator.
Russia said its air defences had destroyed about 50 drones over the Rostov region overnight. A separate drone attack damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery and forced it to suspend operations.
Ukraine recently struck two other major Russian refineries in Moscow and Yaroslavl. Mr Zelenskyy also said refineries in Bashkortostan and the Samara region had been hit during the previous 24 hours.
The Ukrainian president reported further unspecified strikes in the Black Sea and said he had spoken with India, Türkiye, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries about efforts to unblock shipping in the area, where Russia has targeted cargo vessels.
